Issues-led communications

Philip Rycroft: Permanent Secretary at the Department for Exiting the EU

Philip Rycroft was appointed Permanent Secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union in September 2017 after being Second Permanent Secretary for five months. He replaced Olly Robbins, who moved to the Cabinet Office to become the prime minister’s EU adviser.

As Permanent Secretary Mr Rycroft will provide the most senior support to ministers and the wider European and Global Issues Secretariat on all issues related to the UK’s departure from the EU.

He is also Head of UK Governance Group in the Cabinet Office, where his main responsibility is related to constitutional and devolution issues. He will therefore keep a close eye on what impact Brexit has on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In the Liberal Democrat – Conservative Government, Rycroft served as right hand of pro-European Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in his position as Director General in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office from 2012 to 2015. He also spent time in Brussels as an expert in the Cabinet of Vice-President Leon Brittan in the European Commission.