22 April 2005
David Anderson, the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, has quit to take up a senior post in the private sector after less than two years at the Department for Work and Pensions.
The DWP this week confirmed Anderson has been appointed as chief executive of Co-operative Financial Services and will leave his post on May 16. CFS is part of the Co-operative Group.
Anderson had been at Jobcentre Plus, which resulted from the merger of the Employment Agency and the Benefits Agency, since June 2003. During that time, he faced criticism from staff for initiating job centre closures around the UK as part of the government's £40bn Gershon efficiency agenda.
Anderson's decision to leave public service has been viewed as a blow to civil service recruitment. A report by the Senior Salaries Review Body this year warned of a gradual exodus of senior staff in key posts across government because many government bodies cannot match private sector salaries.
A DWP spokeswoman said: 'David Anderson will leave his post next month. I understand he was either head-hunted or approached directly and the prospect of moving back into the private sector appealed to him.'
Anderson was chief executive at Yorkshire Building Society for seven years before he arrived at the DWP.
Lesley Strathie, chief operating officer at Jobcentre Plus, will take over as acting chief executive until the government can fill Anderson's post on a full-time basis.
The recruitment process will begin in May.
PFapr2005
