John-Paul Marks
Official portrait, 2022
Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government
Assumed office
1 January 2022
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Humza Yousaf
Preceded byLeslie Evans
Personal details
Born1979 or 1980 (age 43–44)[1]
Jersey
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
Boston University

John-Paul ('JP') Marks is a senior civil servant who has served as the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government since 2022. He previously worked in the UK Government's Department for Work and Pensions, serving as the Director General for Work and Health Services from 2019 to 2022 and Director General for Universal Credit Operations from 2018 to 2019.

Early life

John-Paul Marks was born in Jersey in the Channel Islands. The son of Susan Marks and Dr Michael Marks, he attended the Victoria College.[1] He studied at Cambridge University from 1999 to 2002 and earned a MA in social and political science.[2] He attended Boston University, graduating in 2003 with an MA in international relations.[3]

Career

Marks joined the UK civil service in 2004. In HM Treasury, he served as the Speechwriter to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Marks spent much of his career before the Scottish Government at the Department for Work and Pensions, latterly as Director General. He served as Principal Private Secretary to Yvette Cooper and Iain Duncan Smith, and was Private Secretary to Mike O'Brien among other roles.[4]

Personal life

Marks is married with two children.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Morel, Julien (23 November 2021). "Jersey man chosen as next leader of the Scottish Civil Service". Bailiwick Express Jersey. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Scotland's First Minister 'delighted' to welcome Islander to senior role". Jersey Evening Post. 2021-11-24. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  3. ^ https://www.bu.edu/pardeeschool/2022/01/06/pardee-alumni-appointed-permanent-secretary-to-the-scottish-government/
  4. ^ "John-Paul Marks". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  5. ^ "John-Paul Marks". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
Government offices Preceded byLeslie Evans Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government 2022–present Incumbent
Categories