Darren Tierney has been appointed as permanent secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), starting next week.
Tierney is currently Director General Propriety and Constitution Group in the Cabinet Office.
This followed the Government’s decision to split the role of National Statistician from Permanent Secretary.
The position is for two years.
Tierney said: “I am delighted to be appointed to the permanent secretary role leading the Office for National Statistics.
“It’s an incredibly important time for the Department and I’m looking forward to working with colleagues in the ONS and its many critical partners.”
Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, Cat Little, said: “I congratulate Darren on his appointment as permanent secretary of the Office for National Statistics.
“I know that Darren will bring his inspiring leadership, experience and professionalism to the role at this important moment for the organisation as it takes forward reforms and continues to improve its provision of top-quality statistics and build a strong organisational culture.
“I want to thank Emma Rourke for covering the combined permanent secretary role since 9 May 2025, and for the progress her and her team have made in the initial response to the Devereux report.”
Little added: “Emma will continue to be acting national statistician while a full external recruitment campaign is conducted.”
Chair of the UK Statistics Authority Board Robert Chote, said: “I am very pleased that Darren Tierney will be joining the Office for National Statistics as its new permanent secretary.
“Darren is a person of integrity and strong values with over 20 years of policy, strategic and corporate experience across the civil service, including the management of transformation programmes.
“Working with Emma Rourke, acting national statistician, and our wonderful colleagues at the ONS, I am confident that he will foster a healthy positive culture in the organisation and ensure that it is led and managed in a way that allows it to deliver to its full potential.”
