HMRC has announced that Jim Harra has been appointed as the new Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary at HMRC, succeeding Sir Jon Thompson. Mr Harra has been covering the role of Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary on an interim basis and was formerly the Second Permanent Secretary at HMRC. HMRC has also appointed an interim Chief Digital and Information Officer.

According to the HMRC announcement, Brexit will remain a key priority for Mr Harra in his new role. Mr Harra, who is originally from Northern Ireland, began his career in the Inland Revenue, as a tax inspector in 1984 and has held a number of director-level positions, becoming Director General for Business Tax in 2012. Arrangements to appoint a successor as Second Permanent Secretary will be announced in due course.