The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister,
has appointed as the new Permanent
Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (DEFRA).
Paul, most recently was the Group Chief Executive of the Foundation and Housing
Trust, stepped into the role on Monday 13 October 2025.
At the time of appointment, former Secretary of State for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt. Hon MP said:
I'm delighted to welcome Paul to the department. His experience
and expertise will ensure we achieve our objectives as a
government. I look forward to working with him to make our
country a better place.
Cabinet Secretary, Sir said:
I would like to congratulate on his appointment as
Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs. Paul's experience of public service delivery in
the UK (and New Zealand), and his most recent role leading the
Foundation, makes him
excellently suited to lead Defra at this time and drive delivery
of the Department's missions.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank for her excellent
leadership of the Department over the last six years and David
Hill for his role as interim Permanent Secretary.
Incoming Permanent Secretary, said:
I am delighted to be rejoining the Civil Service and honoured to
be returning to Defra. Restoring the natural environment and
enhancing the sustainable use of natural resources – through
cleaner water, greener land, purer air and reduced waste – is
fundamental to a strong economy and delivering the Plan for
Change.
And the work of the Defra Group – from food security to
bio-security to flood defences – is critical to ensuring our
national resilience and protecting the public. I am hugely
looking forward to working with colleagues across the Defra
Group, across Government and the many stakeholders who share
these ambitions for our country in the years ahead.
The appointment follows an external recruitment exercise chaired
by the independent First Civil Service Commissioner.
