The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), has announced that Clare Moriarty, the current Director General at the Rail Executive in the Department for Transport, will replace Bronwyn Hill as Permanent Secretary of Defra later this summer.

Her new role will involve overseeing the department's work and ensuring that the department spends government money ‘appropriately’.

Moriarty, who was chosen for the position following a civil service-wide competition, is a qualified accountant and has held roles in a number of government departments including the Department of Health, the Ministry of Justice, and the Department for Transport (DfT).

She has been Director General for Rail since January 2013, where she is responsible for the £3-billion rail budget to deliver the government’s objectives in relation to rail, and is also ‘champion for gender’ on the DfT Board. Moriarty ‘welcomes the chance to work on a fascinating agenda’

Speaking of her appointment, Moriarty said: “I am thrilled to become Defra’s Permanent Secretary. 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: “I am fortunate to have the opportunity to build on the work that Bronwyn has taken forward at Defra, and wish her all the best for the future. I have greatly enjoyed working with the rail industry over the last few years, and will miss the fantastic people I’ve worked with, but I know I will be leaving the Rail Executive in a strong place.”

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Elizabeth Truss, welcomed Moriarty to the department, stating: “I am delighted to welcome Clare to Defra. She brings a wealth of experience in delivering major projects and people leadership.

“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.”

Touching on Hill’s departure, Truss said: “I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Bronwyn for her leadership of the department over the last four years. She has made a massive contribution, and, on behalf of the department, I would like to wish her all the very best.”

Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood also offered Moriarty felicitations and thanked Hill for her work over the past three decades. He added that Hill had been an “exemplary public servant”.