James Bowler (civil servant)

James Bowler, CB is a senior British civil servant currently serving as the second permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office since October 2020 where he is leading the COVID Taskforce for the British Government.[2][3] Before assuming this role Bowler worked for a short tenure from March 2020 as the Director General for Policy, Communication and Analysis at the Ministry of Justice.[4][5] Bowler is currently Trustee of the charity Police Now.

James Bowler CB
Cabinet Office Second Permanent Secretary
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 October 2020
Prime Minister	Boris Johnson
Preceded by	Simon Case (As Downing Street Permanent Secretary)[1]
Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
In office 11 May 2010 – 5 December 2011
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Jeremy Heywood
Succeeded by	Chris Martin
Principal Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office 2005–2007
Chancellor	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Mark Bowman
Succeeded by	Dan Rosenfield

Prior to March 2020 Bowler worked at Her Majesty's Treasury for eight years, serving the positions of Director General for Public Spending between May 2017 and March 2020,[6] Director General for Tax and Welfare between April 2015 and May 2017[7] and Director for Strategy, Planning and Budget between January 2012 to April 2015.[8] Bowler was promoted to Director General in April 2015.[2][5]

In May 2010 when David Cameron became Prime Minister, Bowling was appointed to the post of Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister serving until December 2011.[9][10]

Bowler has also served under Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer having been appointed as his Principal Private Secretary between 2005 and 2007.[11][5] Bowler continued to work closely with Brown during his premiership as Prime Minister.[12]

He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2012 New Year Honours.[13]

References

1. Jill, Rutter. "Number 10 needs to sort out its internal chaos fast". UK in a Changing Europe. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
2. "James Bowler Government Profile". Gov.uk. UK Government. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
3. Casalicchio, Emilio (9 October 2020). "POLITICO London Playbook: COVID war room — Face of the government — Hagues and pains". Politico. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
4. "James Bowler CSaP Profile". Centre for Science and Policy. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
5. Smith, Beckie (9 October 2020). "Former Treasury spending DG appointed Cabinet Office second perm sec". Civil Service World. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
6. "A Short Guide to HM Treasury" (PDF). Major programmes and developments - Page 13. National Audit Office. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
7. "Appointment of new Director General, Tax and Welfare, HM Treasury". HM Treasury. WiredGov. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
8. "HM Treasury Organisation Chart - October 2012" (PDF). HM Treasury. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
9. "Cabinet Office Structure Charts" (PDF). Prime Minister's Office Chart - Page 7. Cabinet Office. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
10. "Senior Staff Salaries in CSV Format". Cabinet Office Transparency Data. UK Government. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
11. Webster, Philip (26 December 2005). "Top Blairites set for a place at Brown's table". The Times. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
12. Brown, Gordon (1 September 2011). Beyond the Crash: Overcoming the First Crisis of Globalisation. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0857202888.
13. "No. 60009". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2011. p. 2.

Positions held