Jo Shanmugalingam has been announced as the new permanent secretary for the Department for Transport (DfT), taking over the role from Bernadette Kelly.
Currently serving as the DfT’s second permanent secretary, Ms Shanmugalingam had been serving as interim permanent secretary since Ms Kelly left the role last month.
Starting her career at the Department for Trade and Industry, she spent six years at the Shareholder Executive (now UKGI), with previous roles including director general for science, innovation and growth at both the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: ‘I’m delighted to have Jo appointed as permanent secretary for the Department for Transport. Having worked closely with her since taking up my role, I know she will provide exemplary leadership as we deliver for this government and the public.
‘I’d like to once again thank Bernadette Kelly for her many years of public service - I can think of no one better to take over the reins from Bernadette than Jo, and I look forward to working with her to deliver this government’s ambitious Plan for Change.’
Ms Shanmugalingam added: ‘I am honoured to be appointed permanent secretary at the Department for Transport. Transport is fundamental to everything we do, connecting people to friends and family, jobs and training.
‘As a department we have a huge part to play at this critical time in driving economic growth. I’m incredibly fortunate to continue working with the talented team in DfT and across the transport system, who I know are all just as dedicated to delivering changes that make a real difference to people’s lives.’
Highways approached the DfT about whether they would also be filling the role of second permanent secretary, but they declined to comment.
