Her Majesty the Queen has appointed John Pullinger as Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, National Statistician and Permanent Secretary, to succeed Jil Matheson who retires at the end of June 2014.
John Pullinger has been appointed by Her Majesty on the advice of the Prime Minister, following consultation with the Deputy Prime Minister, and through open competition. The National Statistician is Head of the Government Statistical Service. As Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, John will be an executive member of the Board of the UK Statistics Authority and under the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 John will be the Board’s principal adviser on statistical matters.
John Pullinger is currently House of Commons Librarian and Director General, Information Services at the House of Commons. John will take up post in July 2014.
Speaking today, Sir Andrew Dilnot, Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, warmly welcomed John Pullinger’s appointment:
“I am delighted that we have appointed John Pullinger to the Board of the UK Statistics Authority as our new Chief Executive and National Statistician. John brings with him enormous professional expertise in official statistics from a distinguished career at all levels; and more recently through his leadership of visionary work in engaging Parliament and the public coupled with providing trusted information and research services to the House of Commons.
“The Board and staff of both the UK Statistics Authority and Office for National Statistics very much look forward to welcoming John when he takes up post in July.
“I would like to reiterate our sincere thanks for Jil Matheson’s exemplary leadership of the Statistical Service over the last five years as National Statistician, as I set out in my announcement earlier this year. We have valued enormously Jil’s professional wise counsel coupled with a great sense of fun, which are indeed remarkable qualities. We wish Jil all the very best for the future.”
The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood said:
“I would like to congratulate John on his appointment. With his considerable experience in the statistical field I am sure he will provide strong leadership for the UK Statistics Authority and Office for National Statistics, and will be instrumental in delivering its future priorities. It is great that the Civil Service has been able to attract someone of John’s international standing – who is also the current President of the Royal Statistical Society – to this critical job. I would also like to thank Jil Matheson for all she has done during her time in the role. I wish her all the very best for the future”.
On the announcement of his appointment by Her Majesty the Queen, John Pullinger said:
“The Board of the UK Statistics Authority has done an extraordinary job in establishing itself during its first few years. Over the years to come there is an opportunity to build on what Jil Matheson and her team have achieved, taking the work of the Authority to a new level, mobilising the power of data to help Britain make better decisions about our future. It is a wonderful privilege for me to have been appointed as National Statistician and Chief Executive of the Authority. I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues in the Authority, with the Government Statistical Service and with everyone who believes in wellinformed decision-making.”
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