Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary

The Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary is a British civil servant who leads the appointment of various senior public figures on behalf of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, from Regius Professors to Church of England bishops to Lord Lieutenants. For ecclesiastical appointments, they sit on the Crown Nominations Commission.

The first Appointments Secretary was Anthony Bevir, who was appointed in 1947. Prior to this, the handling of appointments had been a duty of the Treasury clerk serving within the Prime Minister's private office.^[1]

List of Prime Minister's Appointments Secretaries

• 1947-1957: Sir Anthony Bevir
• 1955-1961: Sir David Stephens
• 1961–1972: Sir John Hewitt KCVO CB^[2]
• 1974–1982: Colin Peterson^[3]
• 1982–1993: Sir Robin Catford KCVO^[2]
• 1993–1999: John Holroyd CB CVO^[4]
• 1999–2008: William Chapman CVO^[5]
• 2008–2014: Sir Paul Britton CB CVO^[6]
• 2011–2020: Richard Tilbrook (senior state appointments; assumed full role in 2020)^[7]
• 2014–2019: Edward Chaplin CMG OBE (senior ecclesiastical appointments)^[8]
• 2020–2022: Richard Tilbrook CVO^[9]
• 2022–present: Jonathan Hellewell LVO^[10]

References

1. Griffith, J. A. G., ed. (1976). From Policy to Administration: Essays in honour of William A. Robson. London: Routledge. pp. 15–16.
2. "Sir Robin Catford: secretary for appointments under Thatcher". The Times. 23 June 2008.
3. "Record: Peterson; Colin Vyvyan (1932-)". archives.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk.
4. "John Holroyd CB CVO DL". www.bullen.demon.co.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
5. "Chapman, William Edward", Who's Who (online ed., Oxford University Press, 2021). Retrieved 28 January 2022.
6. "Sir Paul Britton". National Churches Trust. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
7. "Tilbrook, Richard James". Who's Who 2020. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2019. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U257491. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 23 July 2020. (born 11 April 1962), Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary for senior state appointments, since 2011; Deputy Appointments Secretary to the Prime Minister for senior ecclesiastical appointments, since 2014; Clerk of the Privy Council, since 2012 (Head of Honours and Appointments Secretariat, Cabinet Office, 2011–17)
8. "Appointments Secretary for senior ecclesiastical appointments and Deputy Appointments Secretary". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
9. "Prime Minister announces Appointments Secretary". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
10. "Appointment of the Prime Minister's Appointment's Secretary". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.