Ian Watmore

Ian Watmore
Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office
In office 1 January 2012 – June 2012
Minister	Francis Maude
Preceded by	Sir Gus O'Donnell
Succeeded by	Richard Heaton
Personal details
Born	Ian Charles Watmore 5 July 1958 Croydon, Surrey, England
Children	Duncan Watmore
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge

Ian Charles Watmore (born 5 July 1958)^[1] is an English accountant and former senior civil servant, who from January 2012 until June 2012 was Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office in succession to Sir Gus O'Donnell, after the breaking apart of the tri-hatted role of Cabinet Secretary, Head of the Home Civil Service and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary.

Born in Croydon, Surrey, he was educated at the Trinity School of John Whitgift and then graduated with a degree in mathematics and management studies from Trinity College, Cambridge.^[2] He trained as an accountant with Andersen Consulting, and ultimately became Accenture's UK managing director from 2000 to 2004.

Watmore joined the UK civil service after a career involving IT ad consulting in the private sector,^[3] initially as the first central UK government chief information officer (CIO) and latterly as the Permanent Secretary for Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.^[2] He took over as head of the e-Government Unit, the direct successor to the Office of the e-Envoy in September 2004.^[4] He left this job in January 2006 to take over as head of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit^[5]

On 18 February 2009, he was confirmed as the new Chief Executive of The Football Association, succeeding Brian Barwick starting the job in June 2009.^[6] He resigned from this post on 19 March 2010.

He rejoined the Cabinet Office in September 2010 chief operating officer for the newly formed Efficiency and Reform Group.^[7] On 11 October 2011 it was announced that he would become Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office, replacing Gus O'Donnell, whose three roles were split after his retirement at the end of 2011.^[8] However, he only held this role for a few months, announcing in May 2012 that he was resigning to spend more time with his family.^[9][10] He was replaced by Richard Heaton. In March 2012, he joined the England Rugby 2015 board and resigned from the Civil Service in May 2012.^[11]

A lifelong supporter of Arsenal,^[12][13] he lives in Wilmslow, Cheshire. His son, Duncan, is a professional footballer.^[14]

References

1. "Ian Watmore: The eyes have it, when your job is to know every citizen in Britain". The Independent. 30 October 2005. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
2. "Ian Watmore". Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
3. Stevenson, Alexander (2013). The Public Sector: Managing The Unmanageable. ISBN 978-0-7494-6777-7.
4. SA Mathiason (2 September 2004). "What a way to run the country". The Guardian.
5. "e-Government head's parting shot". The Register. 10 January 2006. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
6. Daily Telegraph: Your business
7. "Chief Operating Officer appointed to the Efficiency and Reform Group" (Press release). Cabinet Office. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
8. "Cabinet Secretary announces retirement" (Press release). 10 Downing Street. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
9. Ian Watmore to leave the Civil Service – News stories – GOV.UK. Cabinetoffice.gov.uk (16 May 2012). Retrieved 24 August 2013.
10. Ian Watmore resigns as permanent secretary in Cabinet Office | Public Leaders Network | Guardian Professional. The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
11. Dudman, Jane (16 May 2012). "Ian Watmore resigns as permanent secretary in Cabinet Office". Guardian Professional. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
12. "Watmore appointed". The Football Association. 18 February 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2012. via Wayback Machine
13. "Watmore installed as new FA boss". BBC Sport. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
14. Wheeler, Chris (15 April 2012). "Altrincham's Damian Reeves on track for League return". Daily Mail. Retrieved 3 July 2012.