The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Sue Owen as the new permanent secretary.

Owen is currently director general, strategy at the Department for Work and Pensions and has previously worked at the Department for International Development, the Treasury and the British Embassy in Washington.

She takes up the role at the beginning of October, taking over from Jonathan Stephens. “It is a great honour to be asked to lead the Department of Culture, Media and Sport,” she says. “The department has a big and exciting agenda to help Britain’s arts, sport, media, creative and tourism industries contribute to economic growth and quality of life, boosted by its responsibility for a society of tolerant diversity.”