Dame Antonia Romeo has been appointed Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, following a recruitment process approved by the First Civil Service Commissioner. She becomes the first woman in the more than 100‑year history of the role.
Dame Antonia, currently Permanent Secretary at the Home Office, brings 25 years of senior leadership experience across multiple government departments. She takes up the post with immediate effect.
Dame Antonia is the longest‑serving permanent secretary currently in government and has led major economic, security and public services portfolios for almost a decade.
Her previous roles include:
- Permanent Secretary, Department for International Trade – where she established the department from scratch as the UK left the EU, bringing trade policy, promotion and finance functions together.
- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice – overseeing the response to the 2024 civil unrest, working across the criminal justice system and launching the Sentencing Review.
- Permanent Secretary, Home Office – leading reforms to the asylum system, overseeing major policing changes and publishing the strategy to build a safer society for women and girls.
Commenting on her new role, Dame Antonia Romeo said:
“It is a huge privilege to be asked to serve as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service.
“The Civil Service is a great and remarkable institution, which I love. We should be known for delivery, efficiency and innovation, working to implement the Government’s agenda and meet the challenges the country faces.
“I look forward to working with all colleagues across the Civil Service to do this, in support of the Prime Minister and the Government.”
The appointment follows the departure of Sir Chris Wormald. The Prime Minister and First Civil Service Commissioner agreed the process for selecting a new Cabinet Secretary, with the Commissioner confirming Dame Antonia as an “exceptional candidate of the highest calibre”.
She had previously been assessed as suitable in the 2024 recruitment process, and this latest decision considered her performance at both the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office since that time.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer added:
“I am delighted to appoint Dame Antonia Romeo as the new Cabinet Secretary. She is an outstanding public servant, with a 25‑year record of delivering for the British people.
“Since becoming Prime Minister, I’ve been impressed by her professionalism and determination to get things done. Families across the country are still feeling the squeeze, and this government is focused on easing the cost of living, strengthening public services and restoring pride in our communities. It is essential we have a Cabinet Secretary who can support the government to make this happen.
“Antonia has shown she is the right person to drive the government to reform and I look forward to working with her to deliver this period of national renewal.”
The Commissioner also oversaw an enhanced due diligence process, carried out by the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary and the interim Government Chief People Officer.
As Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, Dame Antonia will:
- Lead the Civil Service in delivering the government’s agenda
- Drive organisational change across departments
- Support ministers and advise on senior leadership appointments
- Uphold Civil Service impartiality, effectiveness and standards
Her appointment marks a significant milestone in the history of the Civil Service and comes at a time of major operational, policy and organisational challenges across government.
Image credit: iStock and the Cabinet Office
