HM Revenue and Customs has appointed three new director generals following a series of management moves across the tax and benefits department.
The senior officials have been named to new roles following the appointment of Angela MacDonald as second permanent secretary in the department, replacing Jim Harra after he stepped up to become perm sec and chief executive.
Karl Khan will fill MacDonald’s previous role, director general of customer services, on a temporary basis while the process for a permanent appointment begins.
He moves from his current role as the customer service group’s director of finance, planning and performance.
Jo Rowland has been named director general of HMRC’s Covid-19 response unit (CRU), which was formed to coordinate the department’s work following the pandemic. She will replace Melissa Tatton, former chief executive of the Valuation Office Agency, who had been leading the unit on a temporary basis. Tatton will move Ofcom to become interim group director, corporate, next month.
Jonathan Russell will stay on as interim chief executive of the VOA for the next 13 months. Russell, previously the VOA’s chief people officer, took up the DG-level post in March.
The announcments also follow the appointment of HMRC's chief finance officer Justin Holliday as tax assurance commissioner, overseeing the governance and assurance of HMRC’s resolution of tax disputes.
Harra said he was “very pleased that we can now announce these appointments, all of which are critical for delivering the support and service our customers deserve in this exceptionally busy and challenging time”.
He added: “Karl brings his existing knowledge and customer service expertise to the role, and I know will provide the strong leadership needed over the coming months.
“Jo has done a fantastic job leading the delivery of the Covid-19 schemes, and is a natural fit for the director general role.
“Jonathan has provided excellent leadership of VOA over the last few months, and will I know continue to do so for the coming year.”
All roles begin with immediate effect.