Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary Explained

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
• 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]

Notes and References

1. Book: Griffith . J. A. G. . From Policy to Administration: Essays in honour of William A. Robson . 1976 . Routledge . London . 15-16.
2. News: Sir Robin Catford: secretary for appointments under Thatcher . The Times . 23 June 2008 . en.
3. Web site: Record: Peterson; Colin Vyvyan (1932-) . archives.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk.
4. Web site: John Holroyd CB CVO DL . www.bullen.demon.co.uk . 23 July 2020.
5. https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-10648 "Chapman, William Edward"
6. Web site: Sir Paul Britton . National Churches Trust . 23 July 2020 . en.
7. Web site: Tilbrook, Richard James . . Oxford University Press . 23 July 2020 . en . 10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U257491 . 1 December 2019 . 978-0-19-954088-4 . (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. Web site: Appointments Secretary for senior ecclesiastical appointments and Deputy Appointments Secretary . GOV.UK . Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street . 23 July 2020 . en . 14 November 2013.
9. Web site: Prime Minister announces Appointments Secretary . GOV.UK . Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street . 14 August 2020 . en . 13 August 2020.
10. Web site: Appointment of the Prime Minister's Appointment's Secretary . GOV.UK . Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street . 16 July 2022 . en . 15 July 2022.