The prime minister has appointed a new chair of the Senior Salaries Review Body.
Lea Paterson, who is currently a civil service commissioner, will be the new chair of the advisory body, which provides independent advice to the PM and senior ministers on the pay of senior officials.
Her appointment ends a search that lasted more than two years after Martin Read left the role in May 2022. Since then, Pippa Lambert has been the temporary chair and had her stay extended several times.
Paterson said she is “delighted” to have been appointed to the role and “looking forward to working with colleagues to deliver independent, evidence-based advice that not only helps to attract and retain great talent for our public services, but also ensures value for money for the taxpayer”.
She also thanked outgoing chair Lambert “for her sterling leadership of the SSRB”.
As well as her role in the Civil Service Commission, which she has held since 2022, Paterson is currently a board member at the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and an independent member of Warwick University’s remuneration committee.
She has previously held a number of senior roles at the Bank of England, including serving as the bank’s executive director of people and culture, and as the organisation’s first director of independent evaluation.
The Cabinet Office said Paterson “brings extensive experience from public policy, regulation, HR and financial journalism”.
The SSRB’s remit covers senior civil servants; the judiciary; the senior military; police and crime commissioners; chief police officers; and certain senior managers in the NHS
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden congratulated Paterson on her appointment and said : “This role requires someone with financial expertise, strong leadership skills and dedication to public service, and Lea’s skills and experience across many relevant fields will be invaluable.
“I wish her the best of luck in her new role.”