The Welsh Government has appointed director general for health and social services Andrew Goodall as its next permanent secretary.
Goodall, whose current joint role also makes him chief executive of NHS Wales, will succeed serving perm sec Dame Shan Morgan in November.
First minister of Wales Mark Drakeford made the appointment following an open competition that launched in May, offering the successful candidate up to £180,000 a year to serve as the nation’s top civil servant.
Morgan’s term as perm sec was due to continue until February 2022 and could have been extended. However, in early 2019 reports suggested Drakeford was keen for a “fresh start” with a new perm sec and the recruitment campaign confirmed a change of leadership would take place.
Goodall has served in his current dual health role since 2014. Before that he was chief executive of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. He has also served as transition director at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Community, joint chief executive at Neath and Bridgend Local Health Boards and head of performance improvement at Cardiff and Vale NHS Trusts.
Drakeford said Goodall had been a “leading figure” in Welsh public service for many years.
“I’m delighted that Andrew will be taking up the role of permanent secretary as we build a stronger, fairer and greener Wales together beyond the pandemic,” he said.
“I would like to thank Shan for her leadership of the Welsh civil service during these most challenging of times, and wish her well for the future.”
UK government cabinet secretary Simon Case, who was party to Goodall’s appointment, also paid tribute to Morgan’s achievements in four decades of working for the UK civil service, which included a four-year stint as British ambassador to Argentina and Paraguay.
Case said Goodall’s breadth of experience across the Welsh Government and NHS Wales made him well placed to play a key leadership role across Welsh public services
“I very much look forward to working with him as part of the senior leadership of the UK civil service,” he said.