Former Downing Street director of communications Michael Ellam has been appointed second permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office.
Ellam, who was most recently chairman of public sector banking at HSBC, starts today in the role as second perm sec, European Union and international economic affairs.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, who is the minister for the constitution and European Union, said he is “delighted” that Ellam is “bringing his talents to the heart of government, helping us tackle barriers to trade, keep people safe and take on shared global challenges, like illegal migration”.
He said Ellam’s “experience at the highest levels of international finance will be a huge asset as we work to deliver economic growth on behalf of the British people”.
In the newly created role, Ellam will act as the EU "sherpa",representing the prime minister and Thomas–Symonds in meetings and negotiations with the bloc. They will also lead official-level discussions in international forums such as the G7 and G20.
Ellam will also manage the EU Relations Secretariat in the Cabinet Office, which was set up by the prime minister in July to reset the UK’s relationship with the bloc and secure closer links in areas like trade and security.
The role fills a gap in senior official-level coordination with the EU that has existed since Brexit. Before Brexit, EU affairs were led by the head of the European and Global Issues Secretariat, with holders of the role including Tom Scholar, Ivan Rogers, Jon Cunliffe and new FCDO perm sec Olly Robbins.
The cabinet secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, said Ellam “brings essential economic and international expertise, which will help drive UK economic and security interests and will be critical in resetting our relationship with the EU”.
Ellam had a 20-year civil service career before moving into the private sector. He joined the Treasury in 1993 and became director of comms at No.10 under Gordon Brown in 2007 before returning to HMT as director general, international finance, in 2009.
He left this role and the civil service in 2013 and has worked at HSBC ever since.
Ellam, who has been appointed on a five-year fixed term, said he is “delighted” to have been appointed second perm sec and to return to the civil service.
“I look forward to working with the prime minister, the minister for EU relations and others to deliver the government’s objectives on this important agenda,” he added.
The role is the second Cabinet Office second perm sec role created during Starmer's administration, with Clara Swinson appointed as second perm sec for the Mission Delivery Unit in September.