Ian Watmore

{{Short description|British civil servant (born 1958)}} {{Use British English|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ian Watmore | image = Ian Watmore.jpg | office = First Civil Service Commissioner | term_start = 1 October 2016 | term_end = 30 September 2021 | prime_minister = Theresa May Boris Johnson | predecessor = Sir David Normington | successor = Gisela Stuart | office1 = Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary | term_start1 = 1 January 2012 | term_end1 = June 2012 | prime_minister1 = David Cameron | minister1 = Francis Maude | predecessor1 = Sir Gus O'Donnell | successor1 = Richard Heaton | office2 = Chief Operating Officer of the Cabinet Office | term_start2 = 2010 | term_end2 = 2011 | prime_minister2 = David Cameron | minister2 = Francis Maude | office3 = Permanent Secretary of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills | term_start3 = 2007 | term_end3 = 2009 | prime_minister3 = Gordon Brown | minister3 = John Denham | successor3 = Sir Jon Shortridge | office4 = Head of Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, 10 Downing Street | term_start4 = 2005 | term_end4 = 2007 | prime_minister4 = Tony Blair | predecessor4 = Sir Michael Barber | successor4 = Ray Shostak | office5 = Chief Information Officer of the Cabinet Office | term_start5 = 2004 | term_end5 = 2005 | prime_minister5 = Tony Blair | minister5 = Douglas Alexander Alan Milburn John Hutton | predecessor5 = Andrew Pinder | successor5 = John Suffolk | birth_name = Ian Charles Watmore | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|7|5|df=y}} | birth_place = Croydon, Surrey, England | alma_mater = Trinity College, Cambridge | children = Duncan Watmore }} '''Ian Charles Watmore''' (born 5 July 1958)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/ian-watmore-the-eyes-have-it-when-your-job-is-to-know-every-citizen-in-britain-323286.html|title=Ian Watmore: The eyes have it, when your job is to know every citizen in Britain |work=The Independent|date=30 October 2005|access-date=22 December 2010 |last=Webb |first=Tim}}</ref> is a British management consultant and former senior civil servant under three prime ministers, who served from October 2016 to September 2021 as the First Civil Service Commissioner.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-civil-service-commissioner-appointment-ian-watmore|title=First Civil Service Commissioner appointment: Ian Watmore|date=2016-09-16|website=www.gov.uk|publisher=HM Government|access-date=2016-09-18}}</ref>

== Early life and business career == Born in Croydon, Surrey, he was educated at the Trinity School of John Whitgift and then graduated with a degree in mathematics and management studies from Trinity College, Cambridge.<ref name="diusbio"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U45667|title=WATMORE, Ian Charles|date=2015|website=www.ukwhoswho.com|series=Who's Who 2015|publisher=A & C Black|access-date=2016-09-18|edition=online}}</ref> He trained as a management consultant with Andersen Consulting, and ultimately became Accenture's managing director for the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2004.

This career involved IT and consulting in the private sector, and involved him joining the board of e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for IT, from 2000 until 2006,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Public Sector: Managing The Unmanageable|year=2013|author=Stevenson, Alexander|isbn=978-0-7494-6777-7}}</ref> and serving as the president of the ''Management Consultants Association'' from 2003 to 2004.<ref name=":0" />

== Government career == Watmore joined the civil service of the United Kingdom as the first Government Chief Information Officer (GCIO), taking over as head of the e-Government Unit, the direct successor to the Office of the e-Envoy in September 2004.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2004/sep/02/internet.egovernment1|title=What a way to run the country|date=2 September 2004|work=The Guardian|author=SA Mathiason}}</ref> Fifteen months later, at the end of 2005, the Cabinet Office announced that Watmore was that next month to succeed his boss Sir Michael Barber, as the second ever head of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, reporting directly to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2005/051215_watmore.asp?ID=132 |title=Ian Watmore appointed Head of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit |date=2005-12-15 |website=Cabinet Office |publisher=HM Government |archive-url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20060925031332/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2005/051215_watmore.asp?ID=132 |archive-date=25 September 2006 |access-date=2016-09-18 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/10/watmore_leaves_e-government/|title=e-Government head's parting shot|date=10 January 2006|work=The Register|access-date=9 July 2008}}</ref>

Formally the "Chief Advisor to Prime Minister on Delivery", Watmore appointed John Suffolk, the Director General of Criminal Justice IT as his replacement GCIO in May, and Andrew Stott as his deputy on the GCTO side.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.contractoruk.com/news/002633.html|title=Government hires new 'face' of UK IT|access-date=2016-09-18}}</ref> In June 2007, following the reshuffle when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, Watmore was appointed as the inaugural Permanent Secretary of the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, working for the Secretary of State John Denham.<ref name="diusbio">{{cite web|url=http://www.dius.gov.uk/board/ian_watmore.html|title=Ian Watmore|date=2007|website=Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills|publisher=HM Government|archive-url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090209060535/http://www.dius.gov.uk/board/ian_watmore.html|archive-date=2009-02-09|access-date=3 July 2012}}</ref>

Eighteen months later, it was announced that Watmore would leave the Civil Service to be the new Chief Executive of The Football Association, succeeding Brian Barwick starting the job in June 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/5012646/Who-wants-to-be-Lord-Mandelsons-Sir-Humphrey.html|title=Who wants to be Lord Mandelson's Sir Humphrey?|last=Tyler|first=Richard|date=18 March 2009 |access-date=2016-09-18}}</ref> He resigned from this post nine months later, on 19 March 2010, and was replaced by Alex Horne, initially in an acting capacity and later as General Secretary.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/31764356|title=Football Association: Martin Glenn appointed as chief executive|date=2015-03-06|newspaper=BBC Sport|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-09-18}}</ref>

Three months later, following the General Election, Watmore returned to government as the Chief Operating Officer of the Cabinet Office, heading up the newly formed Efficiency and Reform Group.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2010/100630-watmore.aspx |title=Chief Operating Officer appointed to the Efficiency and Reform Group |publisher=Cabinet Office |date=30 June 2010 |access-date=3 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722180120/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2010/100630-watmore.aspx |archive-date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Sixteen months after that, on 11 October 2011 it was announced that Watmore would become Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office, replacing Sir (now Lord) Gus O'Donnell, whose three roles were split after his retirement at the end of 2011.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.number10.gov.uk/news/cabinet-secretary-announces-retirement/ |title=Cabinet Secretary announces retirement |publisher=10 Downing Street |date=11 October 2011 |access-date=3 July 2012}}</ref> However, he only held this role for six months, announcing in May 2012 that he was resigning to spend more time with his family.<ref>[https://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/ian-watmore-leave-civil-service Ian Watmore to leave the Civil Service – News stories – GOV.UK]. Cabinetoffice.gov.uk (16 May 2012). Retrieved 24 August 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Dudman|first=Jane|title=Ian Watmore resigns as permanent secretary in Cabinet Office|url=https://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2012/may/16/ian-watmore-permanent-secretary-resigns |work=Guardian Professional|access-date=17 May 2012|date=16 May 2012}}</ref> He was replaced by Richard Heaton.

In September 2016, it was announced that Watmore would succeed Sir David Normington as the independent First Civil Service Commissioner regulator of the Civil Service from 1 October 2016. for a non renewable five year term.<ref name=":2" />

== Other roles == Watmore was a member of the advisory board of Westminster Business School from 2010 to 2013, and has been a board member of the Information Commissioner's Office since 2012.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/acoba-recommendation-ian-watmore-permanent-secretary-cabinet-office|date=2013-09-30|title=ACOBA recommendation: Ian Watmore, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office|publisher=HM Government|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=2016-09-18}}</ref> He has been a trustee of the Migraine Trust since 2008, serving as its Chair since 2010.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.migrainetrust.org/about-us/how-we-are-run/trustees/|title=Trustees - The Migraine Trust|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-09-18}}</ref> Watmore has been a Church Commissioner since 2014,<ref name=":0" /> and his wife is a priest in the Church of England in the Diocese of Chester.<ref name=":1" />

Watmore is a lifelong supporter of Arsenal,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsFromTheFA/Postings/2009/02/CEO_statement18Feb.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090221141140/http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsFromTheFA/Postings/2009/02/CEO_statement18Feb.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 February 2009|title=Watmore appointed|date=18 February 2009|publisher=The Football Association|access-date=3 July 2012}} via Wayback Machine</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7896722.stm|title=Watmore installed as new FA boss|date=18 February 2009|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=18 February 2009}}</ref> and has had several sport related appointments. He has been a board member of the English Institute of Sport since 2002,<ref name=":0" /> and in March 2012, he joined the England Rugby 2015 board.<ref name=":0" /> He is the non executive chair of Quantum Sport, a sports agency which represents his son, Duncan, who is a professional footballer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/north-east/new-shareholders-at-quantum-sport|title=New shareholders at Quantum Sport|date=21 August 2018 }}</ref> He had been chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board since 1 September 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ian Watmore announces Board updates as ECB welcome him as Chair |url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/1800517/ian-watmore-announces-board-updates-as-ecb-welcome-him-as-chair |website=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=2 September 2020 |date=1 September 2020}}</ref> On 7 October 2021, he stepped down as ECB Chairman with immediate effect,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/2284707/ecb-chair-ian-watmore-to-step-down |title=ECB Chair Ian Watmore to step down |work=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=8 October 2021}}</ref> after serving only 13 months of his five-year term.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/58831143 |title=Ian Watmore: Chairman leaves England and Wales Cricket Board |work=BBC Sport |access-date=8 October 2021}}</ref>

== References == <references />

== Offices held == {{s-start}} {{s-bus}} {{s-bef | before = Mark McRae Otway }} {{s-ttl | title = Managing Director, Accenture UK | years = 2000–2004 }} {{s-aft | after = Lis Astall }}

{{s-gov}} {{s-bef | before = Andrew Pinder | as = Head, Office of the e-Envoy | rows = 2 }} {{s-ttl | title = Government Chief Information Officer and Head of the E-Government Unit, Cabinet Office | years = September 2004–January 2006 | rows = 2 }} {{s-aft | after = John Suffolk | as = Government Chief Information Officer }} {{s-aft | after = Andrew Stott | as = Government Chief Technology Officer }}

{{s-bef | before = Sir Michael Barber }} {{s-ttl | title = Head, Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, Number 10 | years = 2006–2007 }} {{s-aft | after = Ray Shostak }}

{{s-new | office }} {{s-ttl | title = Permanent Secretary at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills | years = June 2007–2009 }} {{s-aft | after = Sir Jon Shortridge }}

{{s-new | office }} {{s-ttl | title = Chief Operating Officer of the Efficiency and Reform Group, Cabinet Office and HM Treasury | years = June 2007–2009 }} {{s-aft | after = himself | as = Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office }}

{{s-bef | before = Sir Gus O'Donnell }} {{s-ttl | title = Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office | years = January–June 2012 }} {{s-aft | after = Richard Heaton }}

{{s-bef | before = Sir David Normington }} {{s-ttl | title = First Civil Service Commissioner | years = 1 October 2016–present }} {{s-aft | after = Incumbent }}

{{s-sports}} {{s-bef | before = Brian Barwick }} {{s-ttl | title = Chief Executive of The Football Association | years = June 2009–March 2010 }} {{s-aft | after = Alex Horne | as = General Secretary }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watmore, Ian}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at Trinity School of John Whitgift Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Category:People from Croydon Category:Permanent under-secretaries of state for innovation, universities and skills Category:Civil servants in the Cabinet Office Category:Chief executives of the Football Association Category:Internet in the United Kingdom Category:British chief operating officers