William Macfarlane
Biography
Will Macfarlane was appointed as Director General of Strategy and Major Events at DCMS in April 2025.
Prior to this role, Will served as Director of Strategy, Planning and Budget at HM Treasury. From 2019 to 2023, Will was posted to Brussels with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office where he represented the UK as Deputy Ambassador to the European Union and Director, Economics and Trade through the negotiation of the UK’s new relationship with the EU. Between 2015 and 2019, Will worked in the office of the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street, as Deputy Principal Private Secretary to the PM.
Will joined the Civil Service in 2005 and spent the first decade of his career at HM Treasury, with particular focus on taxation, and macroeconomic and fiscal policy. Between 2012 and 2014, while at HM Treasury, Will led the UK government’s cross-departmental analytical work programme ahead of the Scottish independence referendum.
Previous roles in government
| 2023 to 2025 | Director of Strategy, Planning and Budget at HM Treasury |
| 2022 to 2023 | Deputy Ambassador, UK Mission to the EU, Brussels |
| 2019 to 2022 | Director, Economics and Trade, UK Mission to the EU, Brussels |
| 2016 to 2019 | Director and Deputy Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street |
| 2015 to 2016 | Deputy Director and Private Secretary (Economic Affairs) to the Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street |
| 2014 to 2015 | Deputy Director, Budget and Tax Strategy |
| 2012 to 2014 | Deputy Director, Scotland analysis |
Previous roles in government
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Deputy Ambassador, UK Mission to the European Union
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Director, Economics and Trade