Alex Chisholm set to replace outgoing Civil Service chief John Manzoni
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Chisholm is currently serving as Permanent Secretary at the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. Manzoni’s departure was confirmed at the end of January.
Outgoing Civil Service chief John Manzoni is set to be replaced by Alex Chisholm, who will take up the roles of Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office and Civil Service Chief Operating Officer (COO). The appointment was announced this week by Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, with the agreement of the Prime Minister.
Manzoni’s departure was confirmed at the end of January and had been “long-planned”, according to the Cabinet Office. However, Manzoni has agreed to stay on to support the government’s response to Coronavirus over the next few months.
Chisholm is currently serving as Permanent Secretary at the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, and was previously Chief Executive of the Competition & Markets Authority.
The Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove noted that Chisholm’s initial work will, unsurprisingly, be focused on Coronavirus. He said:
I am delighted Alex has been chosen as the Cabinet Office’s new Permanent Secretary, and Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service. He is an outstanding public servant who has also had a successful career in business and regulation. I look forward to working with him.
In the medium term, much of Alex’s work will necessarily be coronavirus response related. But Alex will be responsible for supporting ministers to develop and then drive forward a reform programme for the Civil Service, building on the Government’s existing efficiency programme. He will also supervise all the Cabinet Office’s various work programmes including on preparing for the end of the transition period, strengthening the union, and defending our democracy.
I want to add my thanks to Sir John Manzoni for his service. Over the last few years, the cross-departmental functional governance programme has become embedded as part of Whitehall’s machinery, leading to significant savings for the public purse and improved performance. I wish Sir John all the very best for the future.
Commenting on his appointment, Alex Chisholm said:
I am truly thrilled to be asked to lead the Cabinet Office and Civil Service reform at this time. The present emergency is a powerful reminder of how important the work of Government is to the whole country.
I look forward to working with Ministers, colleagues in the Cabinet Office, Permanent Secretaries across government and public service leaders, to deliver for the government and the public together.
Future plans
Manzoni was appointed chief executive of the civil service in October 2014 and was later also given the position of Cabinet Office permanent secretary, in August 2015.
He has had four key priorities in his role over the past few years, which include:
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Increasing the numbers of people in Whitehall with delivery skills and to offer clear career pathways.
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Develop functional leadership across government
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Building the civil service’s planning and performance management capability
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Evolving the model of leadership in the civil service, developing a pipeline of “credible, confident and experienced leaders”
Whilst it is broadly accepted that he has been successful in a number of areas, we at diginomica/government have also levelled a fair amount of criticism at Manzoni during his tenure. On two particular occasions we have pointed the finger directly at the Civil Service chief for blocking, or attempting to dismantle, significant reforms
However, Chisholm is taking up his new role at a time of crisis with the Coronavirus pandemic, but also with Brexit looming over Whitehall operations. The Prime Minister’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings has also said that he wants to shake-up the machinery of government and the Civil Service.
In other words, Chisholm will have a huge agenda to oversee. He will take up his position on 14 April 2020.