Department of Health and Social Care director general Andy Brittain has joined the Government Internal Audit Agency as interim chief executive.
Brittain, who was DG for finance and group operations at DHSC, takes leadership of the agency following the departure of Harriet Aldridge, who is taking up the role of chief operating officer at the Cabinet Office having led the GIAA since December 2023.
He will lead the GIAA while a permanent recruitment exercise is carried out, which is "expected to be concluded by the summer".
Announcing the appointment, Isobel Everett, chair of the GIAA Board, said: “Andy has enjoyed a long career leading the finance functions of many large and complex organisations. I am delighted that he is joining us as our new interim chief executive, bringing all of his expertise and experience. Andy joins a strong and stable organisation that, under the tenure of Harriet Aldridge, has continued to grow and mature – increasing levels of insight across government and providing assurance that public funds are used efficiently and effectively.”
Brittain, who previously served as DG for finance at DHSC from August 2021 to November 2025, said he is "immensely pleased to be taking up this role with GIAA".
"Having spent my career in senior finance roles across government, I have already experienced GIAA’s work as a client and found it to be genuinely insightful and valuable," he added. "I am excited to be leading an agency that makes such a real difference to so many organisations across government.”
An advert for a permanent chief exec has also gone live, with a salaryof between £130,000 and £204,000 on offer. Applications can be made here until 11:55pm on Sunday 24 May.
Established in 2015, the GIAA is a government executive agency sponsored by HM Treasury which provides internal audit services and support for the UK government. Its clients include all ministerial departments and many non-ministerial departments, agencies and public bodies.
It also leads both the government internal audit profession, the internal audit function, and a counter fraud and investigation service that supports government clients with the responsible stewardship of public funds.