Ruth Hannant
Biography
Ruth Hannant and Polly Payne became Directors General for Culture, Sport and Civil Society at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as a job-share in March 2021. They are responsible for arts, heritage and museums, tourism, the Government Art Collection and National Archives, gambling, lotteries, sport, ceremonials, civil society, and youth (outside of education).
From 7 February 2023 to 10 July 2023, Ruth and Polly served as Interim Permanent Secretaries at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Prior to DCMS Ruth and Polly have job shared for over 10 years including as:
- Directors General for Rail Group at the Department for Transport (DfT)
- Directors of Higher Education and Higher Education Reform at the Department for Education (DfE)
- Directors for Strategy and Growth at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)
Ruth and Polly moved to BIS from HM Treasury where they led the Corporate Finance, Business, Innovation and Skills team.
Before job-sharing with Polly, Ruth was a Deputy Director in the Shareholder Executive (now UK Government Investments) where she led work on Post Office reform, Royal Mail and Postal Policy, the government’s shareholdings in NATS and CDC and the restructuring of British Energy. Ruth started her career in Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) working on exports, employment relations and energy. She also spent 9 months on secondment at HSBC Investment Bank in their Energy and Utilities team.
Director General for Culture, Sport and Civil Society (Jobshare)
Previous roles in government
-
Interim Permanent Secretary
-
Director General for Culture, Sport and Civil Society (Jobshare)
-
Director General Rail Group