Dame Bernadette Kelly, the Department for Transport’s permanent secretary, will step down this summer after eight years at the helm.
Kelly will leave in June, retiring after 39 years in the civil service. CSW understands Kelly made the personal decision to depart.
A DfT spokesperson said: “Bernadette Kelly has ably led the Department for Transport’s civil servants for eight years, helping numerous transport secretaries during this time, including during the Covid-19 pandemic. She is proud of the work that she has done to help support a modern transport network delivering for the people of the UK."
Kelly was appointed perm sec at DfT in April 2017, a promotion from her previous role as DG for the department’s rail group.
Prior to this, Kelly held roles at the then-Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, including director general of business and local growth and director general of fair markets.
Having joined the civil service after graduating, Kelly has also worked in the Treasury, Cabinet Office.
Kelly was awarded a damehood for services to government in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022.
Her departure announcement is the latest in a flurry of change among departmental leaders.
Last month, Home Office perm sec Sir Matthew Rycroft told staff he would leave the civil service after five years in charge of the department. He will depart at the end of this month.
Two weeks ago, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology perm sec Sarah Munby announced she will leave the civil service in the summer.
HM Revenue and Customs perm sec Sir Jim Harra is set to leave his post next month, to be replaced by current Scottish Government perm sec John-Paul Marks.