The Cabinet Secretary is pleased to announce the appointment of
Cat Little as the new Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and
Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office.
Cat, who is currently Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury
and Head of the Government Finance Function, was appointed by the
Cabinet Secretary with the approval of the Prime Minister
following an open competition. Cat will take up the role on the
2nd April.
Cat brings to the role a unique combination of experience from
both within government and a decade spent in the private sector.
As well as leading a Government function, Cat has been involved
in policy and strategy making at the highest levels in major
departments such as the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of
Justice and has also spent four years working in the centre of
government in HM Treasury.
The Deputy Prime Minister said:
“I am grateful to Sir Alex for his years of public service,
particularly in the Cabinet Office where he has been a champion
for reform. I am delighted to see Cat Little bring her extensive
experience from both the private and public sectors to this role.
I look forward to working with her as we forge a leaner, more
modern Civil Service that will deliver this Government’s plan for
the future of the United Kingdom.”
The Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, said:
“I am delighted to appoint Cat to this role. Cat’s experience
makes her uniquely positioned to lead the Cabinet Office through
the next stage of its development, ensuring excellence in both
the Cabinet Office’s historic role supporting the Prime Minister,
the Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet, and excellence in the
delivery of cross-government functions. Cat will also continue to
lead reform of the Civil Service, working hand-in-hand with
senior leaders across the Civil Service to ensure we are equipped
to provide the very best support to the government of the day. I
wish Cat every success in her new role and look forward to
working with her
"I would also like to thank Alex Chisholm for his dedication and
service over the last four years, and for his many years of
public service before joining the Cabinet Office. I am personally
very grateful to Alex for his leadership of the department and
his commitment to driving reform across government.”
Commenting on her new role, Cat Little said:
“It is a great honour to lead the Cabinet Office team, and to
support the work of Government and departments at the heart of
the Civil Service. I would like to thank Alex Chisholm for
his leadership and support as a colleague over many years. It is
humbling to follow in his footsteps. It has been an honour to
lead the finance function at the heart of HM Treasury and to
oversee public spending and international finance through some
complex and challenging times but I look forward to continuing
our partnership at the centre of government as Civil Service
Chief Operating Officer and Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet
Office.
"I am looking forward to getting to know Cabinet Office teams,
supporting cross-cutting systems delivery, continued functional
excellence and leading the next phase of Civil Service reform.”
ENDS
Notes for editors:
Biography - Cat Little
Following her early career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Cat spent
several years as a Group Finance Director at the Ministry of
Justice and as Director General Finance in the Ministry of
Defence. Most recently Cat has held posts as Director General
Public Spending, and Head of the Government Finance Function and
Second Permanent Secretary Public Spending, International
Finance, and Head of the Government Finance Function at HM
Treasury.
