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Government appoints new HMRC Chair

24 June 2008
CAB/066/08

The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Mike Clasper, CBE, formerly Operational Managing Director at Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd, as the new Chair of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Mike Clasper has been appointed following an open recruitment process and with the agreement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. His role will be to strengthen HMRC's corporate governance and to provide oversight to the Executive Committee and Departmental Board. In addition, he will play a key role for HMRC by engaging with the Department's many stakeholders.

He will take up the post on 1 August 2008, and will be involved in the selection of HMRC's first Chief Executive.

Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said:

“Appointing someone of Mike's calibre and experience is particularly important at this point in HMRC's development and I am delighted he has agreed to take on the role. Mike will bring the leadership and vision needed to deliver on HMRC's goals of providing an enhanced service to all of its customers across the UK.”

Gus O'Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary said:

“I welcome Mike Clasper to this key role at the heart of Whitehall. It is terrific to bring him into Government and I look forward to working with him very closely. He will be crucial to the success of HMRC in the years to come and I have every confidence he will help the organisation meet the challenges ahead.”

Mike Clasper said:

“HMRC plays a vital and unique role in the life of our country, its work touching every individual and business. I want to see HMRC in the vanguard of public service delivery, providing a top quality and reliable experience for all of its users. That is what those who work in HMRC want and I'm determined that working together we will achieve that goal.”

For media enquiries on this announcement, please contact HMRC press office on 020 7147 2327.

Notes to editors

1. Mike Clasper will take up the post on 1 August 2008, working three days a week. Mike joins HMRC from Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd where he was the Operational Managing Director. He was formerly Chief Executive of BAA plc until July 2006.
2. Born in Sunderland, Mike began his working life as a British Rail signalling engineer before joining Procter & Gamble in 1978. He progressed quickly to a series of senior management positions, when he left in 2001 he was President, Global Home Care and New Business Development. From Procter & Gamble he moved to the airport operator BAA.
3. Mike is a Non-Executive Director at ITV plc and Chair of the West London Consortium, a cross sector body aimed at improving employment and skills services to residents and employers. He was a Founder Member of the Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change.

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