Sir Philip Rutnam

Biography

Sir Philip Rutnam resigned from his post as Permanent Secretary of the Home Office on 29 February 2020 and subsequently began legal proceedings against the Home Office.

Joining the civil service in 1987, Sir Philip is a distinguished public servant. During this period he held some of the most senior positions in the civil service including as Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport and the Home Office. The then Cabinet Secretary wrote to Sir Philip when he resigned. This letter recognises his devoted public service and excellent contribution; the commitment and dedication with which he approached his senior leadership roles; and the way in which his conduct upheld the values inherent in public service.

The government regrets the circumstances surrounding Sir Philip’s resignation. The government and Sir Philip are now pleased that a settlement has been reached to these proceedings.

Sir Philip Rutnam was Permanent Secretary at the Home Office from April 2017 to February 2020.

Prior to that Sir Philip was the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport for 5 years.

In April 2015, Sir Philip became the Civil Service Disability Champion.

Sir Philip had previously been Director General, Business and Skills, at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills where he was responsible for policy towards and industry and enterprise, including economic development across the regions and support for small business, and for further education policy including apprenticeships and the Skills Funding Agency.

Prior to BIS, Sir Philip was at Ofcom where he helped to establish the organisation and then to lead its work on competition, economic regulation and use of the radio spectrum. He was a partner at Ofcom from 2003 and a member of the Ofcom Board from 2007 to 2009.

A former senior Treasury official, Sir Philip Rutnam’s career also includes working in corporate finance at Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong, a period as Private Secretary to the Financial Secretary and responsibility for the Treasury’s interest in business and enterprise. He also previously represented the UK at the European Investment Bank.

He was educated at Cambridge and Harvard.