UK government creates new ‘future civil service’ role to lead on transformation
The UK government has created a new senior role focused on leading civil service and workforce reform.
Jerome Glass has been appointed to the new role of director general, future civil service, and will focus on improving delivery, innovation, productivity, culture and pride across government.
Announcing the move, Glass said that he will be leading the cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo’s agenda on civil service transformation.
Romeo’s objectives as cabinet secretary include leading an impartial, curious and engaged civil service and reforming Whitehall so it is “recognised for excellence in delivery, innovation and improved productivity”.
As well as publishing five key objectives for Romeo, the government has also set out proposals to “move fast and fix things” through embracing digital transformation and improved performance management, and efforts to clear up the government “sludge” of “consultation culture” that ministers say traps government in outdated regulations and overlapping consultations.
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UK announces civil service reforms to ‘move fast and fix things’
Glass, who will move to the Cabinet Office from the Home Office, said the new role brings together the government chief people officer role with civil service reform responsiblity. Previously, the government chief people officer role was held by Fiona Ryland until her departure in late 2025, while the Cabinet Office role of director general for reform and efficiency was vacated by Janet Hughes last month.
Glass served as chief operating officer at the Home Office from June 2025, working closely with Romeo when she was the permanent secretary of the department.
Posting on LinkedIn this week, Glass said: “I’ll be working with Antonia Romeo, [civil service chief operating officer] Catherine Little and all the permanent secretaries with a mission to build the civil service of the future.”
Glass has also served as director general for the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) Policy and Strategy Group from November 2020 to June 2025, having first joined the MoJ in 2016, and worked across roles including principal private secretary to the Lord Chancellor, director of strategy, and director of prison policy.
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