The typical Governor is a white male, aged 50, who has been a Governor for the last 6 years of his 24-year Prison Service career. He joined the Prison Service as a second career without a degree. The article claims that, to be effective, Governors need to be competent in four areas: general management, incident management, public sector management, and prison management. In addition, they must demonstrate certain behaviors identified in the Prison Service Core Competency Framework. Training provided to Governors should incorporate elements of criminology, penology, and management. The exact balance between the various elements of the job (and the training required) will depend on the outcome of a redefinition of the role of Governor. The article raises several questions, including the different competencies (if any) required for Governors of female and young offender prisons and for Governors of prisons in countries other than England and Wales. Table, notes, references