Acting Permanent Secretary

Simon Ridley

Biography

Simon has previously served as:

  • Head of the Cabinet Office COVID-19 Taskforce, from March 2020 to March 2022
  • Director General, Withdrawal Agreement, Transition Taskforce, from January 2020 to March 2020
  • Director General Future Economic Partnership, Department for Exiting the European Union, from July 2019 to January 2020
  • Director General, Decentralisation and Growth, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, from 2015 to 2019
  • Chief Executive, Planning Inspectorate, from 2014 to 2015

Simon will revert to the role of Second Permanent Secretary on 14 April when the new Home Office Permanent Secretary will start work.

Acting Permanent Secretary

Home Office

Previous roles in government

  • Second Permanent Secretary
    • 2023 to 2025
  • Second Permanent Secretary, Home Office and DLUHC
    • 2022 to 2023
  • Director General
    • 2019 to 2022
  • Director General, Decentralisation and Growth
    • 2015 to 2019
  • Chief Executive, Planning Inspectorate
    • 2014 to 2015
  • Director General, Local Government and Public Services
    • 2013 to 2013