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Director general of Rail Executive leaves for Defra

Clare Moriarty is to leave her role as director general of the Rail Executive at the Department for Transport to take over as permanent secretary at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

The current Defra permanent secretary, Bronwyn Hill, is stepping down after more than four years. There is no word yet on who will succeed Moriarty at the Rail Executive.

Moriarty, who is a qualified accountant with experience in the Department of Health and the Ministry of Justice as well as the DfT, said she was "thrilled" to take over at Defra.

“The department has a great role to play on issues that matter to everyone in the country, from the food that we eat to the future of the planet. I welcome the chance to work with Liz Truss and her ministerial team on a fascinating agenda for the years ahead,” she added.

Environment secretary Elizabeth Truss said: “I am looking forward to working with her on unleashing the potential of food and farming, nature and the countryside, on championing the environment, and protecting us from natural threats and hazards. I am particularly excited by the opportunity for Clare to build on her experience of innovation to lead the department’s data revolution.”

In her time at the Rail Executive, Moriarty was responsible for the delivery of major rail investment projects, ensuring rail franchises deliver customer benefits and the effective management of risk.

She was a key figure in contingency planning for the recent spate of threatened rail strikes by unions and helped set up the Office of Rail Passenger Services (ORPS) within the Rail Executive.

(Top image by: Philip Toscano / PA Wire)

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