Gareth Davies appointed as new Second Permanent Secretary at DfT

The Department for Transport (DfT) Permanent Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has today (14 December 2021) announced that Gareth Davies, currently Director-General at the department, has been appointed as the new Second Permanent Secretary at DfT.

The Second Permanent Secretary will provide leadership of a number of high-profile areas across DfT including decarbonising transport.

The Secretary of State for Transport said:

I am delighted Gareth Davies has been appointed as DfT’s Second Permanent Secretary. He brings a wealth of experience from across government and the private sector. 

I look forward to working with Gareth on the key challenges for transport including decarbonisation, levelling up and ensuring transport is delivering for the travelling public every day.

Permanent Secretary for the Department for Transport Bernadette Kelly said:

Gareth’s appointment as Second Permanent Secretary is great news for the department. He has demonstrated outstanding skills in leading DfT’s international and operational work over the past couple of years and played a central part in mobilising our response to the pandemic.

In this new role, he will bring real momentum and energy to our work on the big strategic challenges facing transport in the coming decades.

Gareth Davies said:

I’m very proud to be appointed Second Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport. We have amazing teams who have been working tirelessly to keep the country moving throughout the pandemic.

I’m looking forward to leading our work to decarbonise and improve transport for the travelling public.