08.01.15
New permanent secretary for DCLG appointed
Sir Bob Kerslake’s replacement as the permanent secretary for the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has been revealed.
Melanie Dawes, who has been the director general of the Economic and Domestic Secretariat in the Cabinet Office since October 2011, was chosen following an open competition.
Prior to this she spent five years at HMRC, and was director general for Business Tax from November 2007. Before this she spent 15 years at the Treasury, where she was Europe Director from 2002 to 2006.
Her appointment to the DCLG has been made by the prime minister, after consultation with the deputy prime minister, and the secretary of state.
Dawes will start her new job on 1 March 2015. On being appointed Sir Bob’s successor, following his retirement, she said: “I am delighted to be joining the DCLG as its permanent secretary.
“I look forward to working with the department’s staff, ministers and partners in local government and the business community to deliver on the challenges ahead.”
Sir Bob, who will leave his post as DCLG permanent secretary in February, will take up the chairmanship for King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Housing Association in June 2015.
Communities secretary Eric Pickles said: “Melanie has a wealth of government experience and expertise which will be invaluable to the department. I have worked with her on many important issues in the past and look forward to doing so again.
“I would like to thank Sir Bob for his excellent stewardship of the department over the last 4 years. He is a great reformer and has made a massive contribution to local government. On behalf of the department we wish him the very best for the future.”
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