The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of David Dinsmore as the new Director of Communications at Permanent Secretary level. 

David, who is currently Chief Operating Officer of News UK, will start the newly created role in November.

He will lead the Government Communication Service, the professional body that oversees communications activity across government. 

The Permanent Secretary role has been created to transform how the UK Government communicates with the public and reform the Government Communication Service’s output across all departments and agencies. 

David will be responsible for delivering the government’s communications strategy in a way that reflects the modern media environment and the government’s commitment to deliver the Plan for Change.

He will be based in the Cabinet Office.

Cabinet Secretary, Chris Wormald, said: 

I congratulate David on his appointment as Permanent Secretary Director of Communications. He brings years of executive experience to the task of transforming the way we communicate with the public.

Effective communication is one of the government’s core democratic duties. I’m confident that under David’s leadership the Government Communication Service will take advantage of the rapidly evolving media landscape and go from strength to strength.

Incoming Permanent Secretary Director of Communications, David Dinsmore, said: 

It is an honour to be asked to lead this important mission at such a pivotal moment. Clear and engaging communications are central to public trust, policy delivery, and national resilience. The media landscape is evolving at a rapid pace, supercharged by AI, and I look forward to helping the government leverage the exciting opportunities in front of us.

The appointment follows an external recruitment competition overseen by the independent Civil Service Commission. 

ENDS