The head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service has announced a reorganisation of permanent secretaries at four of the nation’s 10 government departments.
Jayne Brady, who took up her post at the Executive Office last year, confirmed one promotion and three moves among presently-serving perm secs.
Julie Harrison, who is currently a director at Northern Ireland’s Department of Justice, will become perm sec at the Department for Infrastructure.
Katrina Godfrey, who has been Department for Infrastructure perm sec since September 2018, will take on the top job at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
Current Department of Justice perm sec Peter May will swap jobs with his Department of Health counterpart Richard Pengelly.
All of the moves are expected to be completed next month.
The latest changes follow last month’s announcement that private-sector economist and academic Neil Gibson has been chosen as the next perm sec of Northern Ireland’s Department of Finance – becoming the permanent successor to Sue Gray in the role.
Gray returned to Whitehall last year to become second perm sec at the Cabinet Office following a three-year stint at the Department of Finance. After her departure, Gray openly acknowledged her disappointment at not being selected for the role of NICS head during an unsuccessful first round of recruitment in 2020.
Gibson has yet to take up the post at the finance department and is still listed on the EY website as the firm’s chief economist in Ireland.
Colum Boyle has served as interim perm sec at the Department of Finance since Gray’s departure. Last month the Executive Office said he would become permanent secretary at the Department for Communities later in the year.