Paul McComb

Biography

Paul McComb is the Director of UK Exports at the Department for International Trade (DIT).

Paul was responsible for setting up the department in 2016. He followed this by a 4-year tour in Hong Kong as Director General for Trade and Investment.

Prior to working on trade, Paul was the Principal Private Secretary to Right Honourable Iain Duncan Smith MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (DWP), where he helped to deliver the biggest reform of the Welfare State in 60 years.

He served on the Delivery Board of Jobcentre Plus for 4 years. He led an organisation of 25,000 people paying out £50 billion in welfare benefits to 4 million customers, headed up the planning and performance function and led the organisational design and transformation programme.

Previous roles include:

  • Director-General Trade and Investment, Hong Kong 2017 to 2021
  • Director, Transition Programme DIT 2016 to 2017
  • Managing Director of Strategy at UK Trade and Investment (UKTI): 2016
  • Director, Principal Private Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions: 2011 to 2016
  • Deputy Director, Welfare Policy, Department for Work and Pensions: 2011
  • Director, Working Age Benefit Operations, Department for Work and Pensions: 2009 to 2011
  • Deputy Director, Jobcentre Plus, Department for Work and Pensions: 2005 to 2009

Previous roles in government

  • Transition Programme Director
    • 2016 to 2017
  • Managing Director, Strategy
    • 2016 to 2016