Mark Lowcock is the new permanent secretary of the Department for International Development (DFiD), it was announced this morning. He was appointed by open competition, and has been acting permanent secretary since last month.

Lowcock was previously director-general for country programmes. He has had a long career as a civil servant specialising in international development, joining what was then the Overseas Development Administration in 1985 after graduating from Oxford University with a BA in Economics and History.

Lowcock replaces Minouche Shafik, who left DFiD to become deputy managing director of the IMF.

Commenting on the appointment, head of the home civil service Sir Gus O'Donnell said Lowcock is "an outstanding leader with all the skills necessary to lead the department through the years ahead and build on the excellent work of his predecessor, Minouche Shafik".

International development secretary Andrew Mitchell said: "I am extremely pleased with this appointment. Mark has not only an excellent reputation and experience in international development, but his financial qualifications equip him to make sure that we get 100 pence of value for every pound of taxpayers’ money we spend on tackling extreme poverty in the developing world."

Written by CSW