Dame Antonia Romeo has been appointed as the next permanent secretary of the Home Office.
Romeo, who has been perm sec at the Ministry of Justice since 2021, will succeed Matthew Rycroft when he departs the civil service at the end of the month.
Announcing her appointment, home secretary Yvette Cooper said Romeo has “huge experience delivering transformation across a range of government departments, as well as a track record of delivery and strong systems leadership, both of which will be vital to lead the Home Office to deliver its mission on safer streets and border security”.
Romeo has held several high-profile roles in government, including a four-year stint as perm sec of the then-Department for International Trade and six months as the UK's consul general in New York.
She previously worked as director general for criminal justice at the MoJ and head of the Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat at the Cabinet Office, a role seen as a stepping-stone to perm sec level.
She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath – which recognises the work of senior military officials and civil servants – in the King's Birthday Honours last year.
Cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald said Romeo is “an exceptional public servant who embodies the very best of the civil service”.
“She brings a depth of experience from leading the Ministry of Justice and setting up the Department for International Trade, which make her excellently suited to lead the Home Office and delivery of its missions,” he said.
“I would also like to thank Matthew for his service over his 35-year career in the civil service, and in particular for his five years service in his role as permanent secretary at the Home Office. I have personally valued his wise advice and leadership across the many challenging issues he has faced during this time,” he added.
Cooper also thanked Rycroft for “his dedicated leadership of the department over the last five years, his invaluable support for ministers and his many years of public service” and wished him well in his future endeavours.
Romeo said it is a "huge privilege to be appointed to lead the brilliant team of civil servants charged with keeping the country safe and secure.
"It’s hard to think of a more important endeavour than delivering the missions of the Home Office at this vital time for the country," she said.
She added: "I’d like to thank the fantastic team at the Ministry of Justice who have delivered so much in challenging circumstances over the past four years. I’m very proud of what you have achieved."