John Varley OBE in

John Varley OBE

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Chief Executive at Clinton Devon Estates
📍 Exeter, England, United Kingdom

John Varley is a senior board-level leader and the Chief Executive of Clinton Devon Estates, a role he has held since 2000. He focuses on stewardship and innovation to improve performance, with extensive experience in both the private sector with BT and public entities like the Environment Agency. Colleagues describe him as an outstanding and proactive contributor.

John has deep ties to the military, having served for 22 years as an officer in the Territorial Army, Royal Artillery, in his spare time. He is a strong advocate for veterans transitioning to civilian careers, particularly within the rural sector. He also dedicates time to his family, which includes three children.

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to agriculture, the environment, and the rural community.

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Experience
24 Years
Current Role
Chief Executive
Location
Exeter, England, United Kingdom
Personality Overview

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Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

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Priorities

Topics John cares about

Long-term Stewardship
As CEO of a 700-year-old estate, he is quoted as saying sustainability is about ensuring they are "in tune with what society wants us to be doing in the coming generations. "
Biodiversity & Conservation
He chaired the influential "Varley Review" for the UK government, assessing how to balance biodiversity with safety in managing vegetation on the national railway network.
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Career

Work history

4-2000
Chief Executive
Clinton Devon Estates
6-2018
Chairman of the "Varley Review" - the management of trees and biodiversity on the nation's railway
UK government
9-2009 - 4-2021
Non Executive Board Member
Environment Agency
7-2011 - 10-2014
Chairman, Pension Fund - £3.5bn fund
Environment Agency
10-1999 - 3-2000
Director, Project Heritage
BT
In the press

Media appearances

John Varley and Clinton Devon Estates (A) - IMD Business School. Featured in IMD Business School
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John Varley, Clinton Devon Estates Director. Featured in YouTube
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Education
1996 - 2025
OWP / LTFB
IMD
1998 - 1998
Masters IMPM
Kobe University
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

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