Second Permanent Secretary

Simon Ridley

Biography

Simon has previously served as:

  • Head of the Cabinet Office COVID-19 Taskforce, from March 2020 to March 2022
  • Director General, Withdrawal Agreement, Transition Taskforce, from January 2020 to March 2020
  • Director General Future Economic Partnership, Department for Exiting the European Union, from July 2019 to January 2020
  • Director General, Decentralisation and Growth, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, from 2015 to 2019
  • Chief Executive, Planning Inspectorate, from 2014 to 2015

Second Permanent Secretary

Simon will lead the Migration and Borders System.

The Migration and Borders System is made up of:

  • Migration and Borders Group
  • Strategic Operations for Illegal Migration
  • Customer Services
  • Immigration Enforcement
  • Border Force

Simon will line manage the relevant Migration and Borders directors general.

Home Office

Previous roles in government

  • Second Permanent Secretary, Home Office and DLUHC
  • Director General
  • Director General, Decentralisation and Growth
  • Chief Executive, Planning Inspectorate
  • Director General, Local Government and Public Services