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New Permanent Secretary, Government Communication

12 November 2008
CAB/107/08

The Prime Minister [External website] today approved the appointment of Matt Tee as the new Permanent Secretary for Government Communication.

Matt Tee is the second Permanent Secretary for Government Communication and takes over from Howell James who left in June to take up a new role at Barclays.

Matt Tee is currently Chief Executive of NHS Direct. This appointment marks a return to the Civil Service for Matt who was previously Director General of Communications at the Department of Health and, before that, Director of News at the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Permanent Secretary Government Communication is responsible for the strategy, coordination and effectiveness of Government Communication across Whitehall. The role was created following the recommendations of the Phillis review of government communications.

Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell said:

“I am delighted to have appointed Matt Tee to this vital role. Effective communication is central to the delivery of government policy. And it is increasingly vital that insight into the potential impact of government policy on specific people's lives is factored in right at the start. Driving the effective use of customer insight across government is a key priority.”

Matt Tee said:

“I am delighted to have been appointed. Leaving a great organisation like NHS Direct will be a wrench, but leading Government Communications and helping ensure that customer insight is at the centre of policy formation is a fantastic opportunity.”

Notes to editors

1. Matt Tee's appointment was approved by the Prime Minister following the recommendation of the Head of the Home Civil Service.
2. Matt Tee previously held the position of Head of Communications at Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital Trust in 1995 where he was accountable to the Chief Executive for the full communications function for the country's largest NHS Trust.
3. From 1999 to 2005 he was Director of News at the Department for Trade and Industry and in 2005 he was the Director General of Communications at Department of Health, one of the most senior communications roles in Whitehall.
4. In 2007 Matt became Chief Executive of NHS Direct where he leads 3,000 staff in the NHS' national multi media provider of health advice and information.

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