Prime minister Boris Johnson has this week appointed former NHS Trust executive, Samantha Jones, as the first permanent secretary to Number 10 Downing Street.
The new position was created as a part of Johnson’s shake-up of the government operation, following senior civil servant Sue Gray’s damning report into the Downing Street ‘partygate’ scandal.
Jones, who already advises the PM on NHS transformation and social care, will take on the new role on an interim basis for six months. She was part of the team that helped draw up the new government plan for tackling the NHS England backlog.
Her chief executive positions within the NHS involved being at the helm of the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, as well as Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust.
Johnson said: “I promised to make changes to my senior team so that we can get on with better delivering for the British people.
“That is what we are now doing by bringing in the very best skills and management experience with a clear vision to unite and level up our country.”
Cabinet secretary, Simon Case, was thrilled to have Samantha on board within the Downing Street operation.
He said: “I am delighted Samantha [Jones] has agreed to take on this critical role. Samantha has the blend of skills and experience needed to take on the job.”
Jones herself was also delighted to have been tasked with her new role.
She said: “I am pleased to have been asked by the prime minister to take up the role of permanent secretary in Number 10. I look forward to establishing an Office for the Prime Minister that provides him with the professional operation to deliver his agenda.”
Preceding Jones’ appointment were numerous other changes within Downing Street as the PM continues his work establishing the new “Office of the Prime Minister”. He has already appointed Guto Harri as his new director of communications, Andrew Griffith as head of Number 10’s Policy Unit, and Steve Barclay as chief of staff.
Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons
