The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
has today announced the appointment of Nick Joicey as a new
second Permanent Secretary.
Nick is currently serving as the Director General of
the Cabinet Office’s Economic and Domestic Secretariat. He
will take up the post on 17 July 2023.
The second Permanent Secretary will act as Defra Group Chief
Operating Officer and will oversee the Strategy and Science and
Analysis groups within the department. Current Chief Operating
Officer Sarah Homer will take up the role of Director General for
Portfolio Delivery.
Welcoming Nick’s appointment, Defra Permanent Secretary said:
Nick has been appointed in a new second Permanent Secretary role
as part of our work to build a Defra group that is designed to
deliver for the future.
I am delighted that Nick will be taking up this important role
and I look forward to welcoming him back the department at this
exciting time.
Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:
Nick is a highly experienced public servant and will bring a
wealth of knowledge from across government.
I look forward to welcoming him back to Defra where he previously
served with distinction as we continue to deliver on our exciting
agenda to improve the environment and support our vital food,
farming and water sectors.
Nick Joicey said:
I am thrilled to be joining Defra as Second Permanent Secretary
and Group Chief Operating Officer and excited at the prospect of
delivering on Defra’s ambitious agenda of improving our
environment, rural communities and food, water and farming
sectors.
I know what a brilliant department it is from my time there as a
Director General. I am looking forward to working with the
brilliant teams in Defra, across government and in the sectors to
see this agenda realised.
