HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : David Varney appointed executive chairman of new tax department [May 2004]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 13 May 2004.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced today that, following his decision to integrate HM Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue into a single department, Her Majesty the Queen had been pleased to approve the name of the new department and the appointment of its first executive chairman.

The new department will be called Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, and following an open recruitment process, David Varney, outgoing chairman of MMO2 and chairman of Business in the Community, will become the executive chairman of the new department.

The Chancellor also announced that Paul Gray, currently Second Permanent Secretary in charge of pensions and disability at the Department for Work and Pensions, has been appointed as the department’s deputy chairman.

Both Mr Varney and Mr Gray will take up their posts on 1 September 2004.

Gordon Brown said:

“Mr Varney is an outstanding business leader with a first rate record proven across the private sector with a reputation for good management and effective delivery.  I know he will have the support of the existing management and staff in the two departments, who have my gratitude for the excellent job they continue to do”

David Varney commented:

“This is one of the biggest delivery jobs in Government and I am very excited about the challenge of making the new department a success. I look forward to working with Paul Gray and all the staff in the department”.