The Government Legal Department has appointed the Mininstry of Defence's Richard Cornish to the newly-created role of chief operating officer.
GLD announced the creation of the director-general level post last year against the backdrop of a significant expansion in headcount since 2015. It advertised the role for a salary of up to £149,000.
Cornish, who has now started in post, was previously chief executive of the MoD's Defence Business Services organisation.
The GLD said Cornish will be responsible for providing leadership across the department’s legal operations and corporate functions including strategy, finance, human resources, digital data and technology, and knowledge and innovation. He will also be part of GLD’s executive team and board.
Cornish said he was "delighted" to join GLD.
"I look forward to working with the senior team on the challenges and opportunities facing the department, and civil service more broadly, that are involved in providing high quality legal services across government," he said.
"GLD’s recently released Strategy 2024-2027 is an ambitious plan to modernise, improve, and build on the commendable work of the last few years. I am excited to work alongside all colleagues to deliver on this ambition."
Before joining the MoD, Cornish held senior transformational and operational-leadership roles at Natural England and at the Department for Work and Pensions.