Mach, are you suggesting that he wasn't the best candidate to apply?

Perhaps he ticks more of those boxes than anyone else who put their name into the hat.

A background in airspace regulation would be useful in assisting that part of "GA" that operates Learjets and the like.

Many GA types have been “talking” with the CAA for many years and have not made the advance that the GA Unit potentially represents.
My own experience earwigging on meetings with one of the groups dealing with the CAA was that it was more a briefing from the CAA telling the group what the CAA were going to do (cherry picked to make it sound like the CAA were “on our side”). These guys were meeting with the CAA once or twice a year so the speed of dealing with anything was painfully slow. But this was acceptable to these guys as they were as much “establishment” as the guys from the CAA.
Suddenly the Red Tape Challenge exposes the rump of the CAA and the CAA promise action.

Alternatively, here is possible scenario from the teachings of Sir Humphrey. Set up a unit to answer the Tory minister’s demands, put a nice guy who knows nothing about GA in charge of the unit (so has to deal with existing groups who, we know, are used to months between unproductive meetings), wait until the next general election, government changes, minister is promoted and forgets about GA, GA unit closed quietly. GA complains through existing associations, CAA say “we tried the GA unit and it didn’t work” and the associations all say “yes you did, what a shame it didn’t work”. Problem dealt with. Nothing changes, CAA happy. GA disappears with only homebuilts remaining under LAA control. CAA even happier.