HCA's Kerslake made permanent secretary

Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, has been appointed permanent secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government. He takes up the position on 1 November.

Commenting on the news, the HCA’s chairman, Robert Napier, said: “While I am sorry to lose Bob, I would like to congratulate him on his appointment.  Permanent secretary is the top civil servant post in an important arm of Government and his appointment is a reflection of his outstanding skills and of the HCA’s track record of delivery.”

Kerslake was the very first chief executive of the HCA, which is the national housing and regeneration body for England, when he joined it in 2008. The agency has an annual budget of more than £4bn.Prior to that he was chief executive of Sheffield City Council.

Napier continued: “Bob has literally lived and breathed the HCA since he was appointed just over two years ago, and along with the hard work and commitment of all our staff he has played a major part in our success to date. 

“Looking forward we have a continuing and evolving role, as well as a business to run as usual, and over the coming months we will continue to deliver against our current programmes while we shape our new way for doing business. 

“I am pleased that Government recognises that the key role that the HCA has to play in helping to shape local places, and that our staff have the necessary skills and expertise to adapt to our changing world.”

The HCA Board has begun the process for recruiting a new chief executive from its existing group of directors initially, on an interim basis.