Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs director general David Hill is set to leave his post in the coming weeks to take up a new economic development posting.
Hill is currently DG responsible for strategy and water at Defra and served as interim permanent secretary from June to October last year, following the departure of former perm sec Dame Tamara Finkelstein. Paul Kissack was subsequently appointed as perm sec of the department.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government last week announced that Hill has been appointed as chief executive of the new Greater Cambridge Development Corporation and will take up post in September.
The corporation is tasked with bringing land together for development, investing in key parcels and unlocking stalled sites to deliver thousands of new homes and jobs across the region.
MHCLG said Hill would be able to bring extensive senior experience to the regeneration body from both his work as a civil servant and as director of strategic commissioning at Essex County Council, where he led a range of place-based initiatives.
Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook said Hill would provide key skills for the infrastructure-led development of Greater Cambridge.
“Building on his strong track record in government, I know David will work closely with local partners to ensure the region is equipped with the powers and authority needed to deliver new housing, jobs and infrastructure at scale,” Pennycook said.
Hill said: “I’m honoured and excited to be taking up this new role, and look forward to working with all our partners to deliver the jobs, infrastructure and homes needed to enable Cambridge to grow and to benefit local communities.”
He has been a DG at Defra since 2019. Prior to his stint at Essex County Council, Hill held roles at the then Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Communities and Local Government, which was subsequently rebranded as MHCLG.
Defra recently ran recruitment campaigns for two DG posts – a director general for strategy and change and a group chief operating officer.