New Permanent Secretary appointed at DCMS

The Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, with the agreement of the Prime Minister, has today announced the appointment of Susannah Storey as the new Permanent Secretary at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Susannah will support the Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and her Ministerial team and be responsible for leadership of the Department.

Susannah is currently a Director General at the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) following its establishment in February 2023, and before that was DG for Digital and Media at DCMS.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP said:

I’m delighted Susannah is joining us as Permanent Secretary. I know that Susannah’s extensive knowledge, insight and experience will help us press ahead with maximising the potential of our sectors, creating opportunities for young people across the UK, and upholding media freedom.

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case said:

I would like to congratulate Susannah on her appointment. DCMS has a critical role in driving growth and enriching the lives of people and communities up and down the country and Susannah’s wealth of experience from across the public and private sectors make her excellently suited to lead this department.

I would also like to thank Polly Payne and Ruth Hannant for their excellent leadership of the department over the last few months, including the delivery of the Coronation.

Susannah Storey said:

I am delighted to be appointed as the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. I know what an outstanding Department DCMS is from my time as Director General and I have seen how the newly refocused department has really hit the ground running over the last few months.

I am looking forward to working with the Secretary of State and Ministers to continue the important work of DCMS in driving growth and enriching lives in the UK.

Further information:

1. Susannah Storey has been Director General (DG) at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology since it was established in February 2023. Immediately prior to that she held the same DG role in DCMS, before the Machinery of Government changes.

2. Previously, Susannah was Director General at the Department for Exiting the European Union (DEXEU) and held a number of Director roles at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and UK Government Investments.