25 January 2001
The Prime Minister has approved two key appointments to drive forward the next stages of Welfare Reform - the creation of dedicated services for both people of working age and pensioners.
With the agreement of the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Secretary of State for Social Security he has approved the appointment of Leigh Lewis as the Chief Executive Designate of the new Working Age Agency following an open competition. Last year the Prime Minister announced the Government’s intention to create a new agency with a clear focus on work to improve the service to people of working age and helping them to become independent. The Working Age Agency will radically change the way the Government provides support for people of working age. It will accelerate the move from passive payment of benefit to active help for people to become more independent based on work for those who can and support for those who cannot. Mr Lewis who is currently the Chief Executive of the Employment Service will become Chief Executive Designate of the new Agency with immediate effect and will oversee the Agency’s creation. He will have the status of a member of the permanent secretary group. At the same time it is also announced that Alexis Cleveland, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, will become Head of Operations of the new pensions organisation when it is established later this year. The new organisation will provide a modern service tailored to the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s pensioners.
Notes for Editors
Leigh Lewis is 49 and was educated at Harrow County Grammar School and Liverpool University. He joined the Employment Department in 1973 and has wide experience at senior level in both policy and operational roles. Between 1988 and 1991 he was seconded to Cable and Wireless PLC as Group Director of Personnel. He took up his current post in 1996. Mr Lewis brings to the post extensive knowledge of the issues which will face the new Working Age Agency and considerable experience of leading change in both public and private sector organisations. Alexis Cleveland is 46. She was educated at Brighton and Hove High School and the University of Salford. She joined the Civil Service in 1978 and has extensive experience at senior level of operations in the Benefits Agency. Before taking up her current post in May 2000 she was Working Age Services Director of the BA.
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