Appointment of Chief Executive and Secretary to the Treasury

The Treasury's Deputy Chief Executive Gabriel Makhlouf has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive and Secretary, the State Services Commission announced today.

Mr Makhlouf, who has been acting in the role since June 1 following the departure of former Secretary John Whitehead, arrived in New Zealand from the United Kingdom in March 2010 to join the Treasury.

"It is an honour to lead this organisation and to succeed John Whitehead, one of New Zealand’s most capable and respected public servants," Mr Makhlouf said.

As Deputy Chief Executive, Mr Makhlouf's areas of responsibility included the National Infrastructure Unit, the Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit, the Financial Operations Group, the Strategy and Performance team, and the Finance team.

His career in the UK included positions at HM Revenue and Customs, where he led one of the biggest operational directorates, HM Treasury and the Inland Revenue. He has chaired the world's main tax-ruling body at the OECD and was Principal Private Secretary to the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown.

Mr Makhlouf has delivered policy and operational results in complex economic, political and organisational environments and has led substantial change management programmes.

"This is a time of significant change and opportunity for New Zealand. The Treasury has a firm focus on growing the economy, getting public finances back in order, and working with the public sector as it seeks new ways to deliver better services for less."

Mr Makhlouf has been appointed for a five-year term.