Head of Department
Sir Leigh Lewis KCB
Permanent Secretary Department for Work and Pensions
Having graduated in Hispanic studies from Liverpool University, Leigh Lewis joined the then Department of Employment as an Administrative Trainee in September 1973. He undertook several developmental posts including the Head of the Industrial Relations Policy Division before being appointed as Principal Private Secretary to Lord Young, Minister without Portfolio and Secretary of State, in 1984. He became Director of Operations for the Unemployment Benefit Service in 1986.
In 1988 Leigh Lewis joined Cable and Wireless plc as group personnel director. On returning to the Department of Employment in 1991, he became Director of the International Division and later, in 1994, Director of Finance. He retained that post when the Department for Education and the Employment Department Group merged in July 1995.
Leigh Lewis was appointed as Chief Executive of the Employment Service following an open competition in January 1997. In January 2001, following a further open competition, he was appointed Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, a new business of the Department for Work and Pensions. From April 2002 Jobcentre Plus brought together the Employment Service and those parts of the Benefits Agency which deal with customers of working age, into a single work focused organisation.
In February 2003 Leigh Lewis was appointed to the Home Office as Permanent Secretary for Crime, Policing, Counter-Terrorism and Delivery. He was appointed to his present post in November 2005.
Leigh Lewis is married with two sons. Outside of work his interests are his family, collecting telephone cards and watching Watford FC.