DECC Appoints New Permanent Secretary

Alex Chisholm has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, following the announcement that Stephen Lovegrove, who held the position, has been named Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence.

The appointment has been made by the Prime Minister in agreement with the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Amber Rudd.

Chisholm will take up his post at DECC on Monday, 4 July.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd, said: “I greatly look forward to welcoming Alex as DECC’s new Permanent Secretary. His experience across the public and private sectors, including most recently at the CMA, will be hugely valuable to our Department. This is an important time for DECC as we work to deliver the secure, affordable and clean energy our families and businesses can rely on now and in the future. Alex’s leadership will be vital as we continue our drive to improve the energy market, reduce people’s bills and build an energy infrastructure fit for the 21st century.”

Commenting on his new role, Alex Chisholm said: “I am delighted to be joining DECC at this important time for energy and climate change policy. I look forward to working with the Department’s ministers and officials, and getting to grips with the many different challenges involved in ensuring the UK has secure, affordable and clean energy supplies.

“It has been a great personal and professional privilege to lead the CMA in its formative period. I am proud of the CMA’s record in undertaking major market investigations into energy, retail banking, motor insurance, payday loans and private healthcare, handling over 150 enforcement, merger and advocacy cases, and adjudicating regulatory appeals in the electricity, telecoms and water sectors, in total delivering direct consumer benefits in excess of £1 billion. While I am sad to be leaving so many good friends and colleagues, the CMA is in good shape and I am sure will continue to deliver successfully on its important public mission.”