DVSA CEO Loveday Ryder announces her decision to step down
Posted 11 November 2025 — Anyone
Loveday Ryder has decided to step down as Chief Executive of DVSA after 5 years' service.
She has led the agency since January 2021, navigating through the pandemic and subsequent recovery. Her decision is influenced heavily by her family circumstances.
DVSA Chair Nick Bitel said:
“I want to thank Loveday for her leadership of DVSA during what has been the most challenging period of the agency’s history.
“The past few years have seen unprecedented demand on our services and she has led us into these challenges with determination, empathy, and a clear focus on doing the best we can for our customers. All of us at DVSA wish her well for the future.”
Within days of Loveday taking over as CEO, DVSA became unable to provide driving tests, and other services, as the nation went into a third national COVID lockdown. Since then DVSA has worked hard to provide a response to unprecedented levels of demand.
This year DVSA expects to carry out 1.975 million car driving tests and almost 3.7 million car theory tests. It will significantly expand driving examiner capacity as well as making further improvements to its test booking systems.
Loveday has overseen improvements to DVSA's vehicle services, with high satisfaction levels among private sector customers in authorised testing facilities, fleet operators and MoT centres. She has continued to champion DVSA's focus on enforcement, with offence detection and fraud prosecutions increasing yearly - helping to protect the public from unsafe vehicles and drivers.
She has championed digital improvements, tackled misuse of the test booking system, and promoted customer supporting initiatives like DVSA’s “Ready to Pass?” campaign. She has sought to put customer care at the forefront in challenging times for the agency.
Loveday Ryder said:
“The past 5 years have been the toughest, and at times, the most rewarding of my professional career.
“The people of DVSA work hard every day to keep drivers and their vehicles safe. They are dedicated professionals doing all they can to improve road safety. I thank them all for their sustained commitment and I am proud to have been their Chief Executive.”
Nick Joyce, DfT Director General said: “I would like to thank Loveday for her leadership, particularly her work leading the DVSA through the pandemic and its subsequent recovery. “We wish her well in future endeavours and will make further announcements about new leadership as soon as possible.”