NHS chief executive to become Wales’ new top civil servant

The doctor who led the Welsh NHS through the coronavirus pandemic is to become Wales’s most senior civil servant.

Dr Andrew Goodall will become the new Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Government.

Dr Goodall, who was previously chief executive of the NHS in Wales, will succeed Dame Shan Morgan as the most senior civil servant in the Welsh Government.

He will be responsible for around 5,000 staff, as well as the principal policy adviser to the First Minister.

Dr Goodall has been Director General for Health and Social Services and Chief Executive of NHS Wales since 2014. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

Over the last 18 months he has taken a familiar face in the Welsh Government’s coronavirus press conferences.

He said: “It is a great honour to take up the role of Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Government. I look forward to working with staff across the civil service and the wider Welsh public sector workforce.

“There are major challenges ahead but I am confident that we can rise to them by working together, and building on the foundations that Shan has laid over the last five years.”

Permanent Secretaries are appointed on fixed five year contracts following an open and rigorous civil service competition.

Commenting on Dr Goodall’s appointment, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “I’m delighted that Andrew Goodall will be taking up the role of Permanent Secretary as we build a stronger, fairer and greener Wales together beyond the pandemic.

“He has been a leading figure in Welsh public service for many years, so I warmly welcome his appointment to this role.

“I would like to thank Shan for her leadership of the Welsh civil service during these most challenging of times, and wish her well for the future”.

Dame Shan said: “I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked with such a fantastic group of people on things that have made a huge difference to people in Wales at one of the most challenging times in our history.

“Although much of my time has inevitably been spent fire-fighting, my focus as Permanent Secretary has been to try to develop a more resilient, skilled and capable civil service for the future, as well as making the organisation a fairer, more inclusive place to work.

“I wish Andrew all the best and will be working closely with him as he takes up the role.”