Olly Robbins appointed new Foreign Office chief Former Brexit negotiator Sir Oliver Robbins has been appointed as the Foreign Office’s highest ranking civil servant.
Sir Oliver was among the senior civil servants who were last year shortlisted for the post of Cabinet Secretary – the civil service’s top job – a role now filled by former health chief Sir Chris Wormald.
He currently works for Hakluyt, a global strategic advisory firm, has previously worked for Goldman Sachs, and held senior roles at the Cabinet Office, Treasury and in Downing Street – but has never worked at the Foreign Office previously.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Sir Oliver was “exactly the person” to help him “rewire the FCDO to act as the international delivery arm of this Government’s missions”.
Sir Oliver, known as Olly, will serve as the new permanent under-secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
