Transforming Government Procurement: John Oughton

Following the completion of his review of the Office of Government Commerce and the publication of "Transforming Government Procurement" on 23 January, John Oughton has today announced that he will stand down as Chief Executive of the OGC on 31 March 2007.

John Healey MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

"I would like to thank John for his major achievements as head of the OGC and for leading the organisation successfully through a period of major change. Procurement is now centre stage in the delivery of public services and the efficiency agenda is firmly embedded in the mainstream of government activity. He leaves the organisation well placed to meet the challenges ahead."

John Oughton said:

"In my three years as Chief Executive I've been proud to lead an organisation that has exceeded its targets on value for money gains in central government, efficiency and procurement. As I informed the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury last year, the completion of the OGC review is the right time to appoint a new Chief Executive, able to serve a full term while implementing the Transforming Government Procurement agenda. I'm pleased to leave the OGC with a clear vision for its future firmly established."

Notes to editors

John Oughton, 54, was appointed Chief Executive of the Office of Government Commerce on 1 April 2004, having joined the OGC as Deputy Chief Executive in 2003. Prior to the OGC, John held various posts in the Ministry of Defence and the Cabinet Office in his public service career. He was Director of Procurement Policy in the Ministry of Defence. Under the previous Government he was, from 1993-1997, Head of the Government's Efficiency Unit, and he continued in this role after May 1997, when the Efficiency Unit worked with No 10 and the Treasury on the new Government's first Comprehensive Spending Review. From 1998 until 2003 he was, in the Ministry of Defence, the senior civilian responsible for leading the modernisation programme in the new Defence Logistics Organisation, first as head of the implementation team creating the DLO and then as Deputy Chief of Defence Logistics.
The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is an independent Office of the Treasury, reporting to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Its purpose is to transform procurement in central Government, by:
- Setting standards and monitoring performance and capability;
- Developing a cadre of skilled procurement professionals across Government; and
- Driving value for money deals on a collaborative basis.
The 2006 Pre-Budget Report announced that the Government would draw up detailed plans to make the step change required in its procurement capability to deliver world class public services. These are set out in "Transforming government procurement", published on 23 January 2007.
John will leave OGC on 31 March. His successor will be appointed via an open competition. Peter Fanning, currently Deputy Chief Executive of OGC, will serve as Acting Chief Executive from 1 April until a new Chief Executive is appointed.
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