HMCTS names continuity candidate as new chief executive

HM Courts and Tribunals Service has picked a Ministry of Justice insider as its next chief executive.

Megan Lee-Devlin joins HMCTS from her role as director general for justice services and transformation at the MoJ where she ‘has driven the digital transformation of services across the justice system, including in prisons, probation and services for victims’.

In her new role, Lee-Devlin will be responsible for leading the HMCTS modernisation programme. 

Lee-Devlin, who succeeds Nick Goodwin, now director general for policy at the MoJ, said: ‘I look forward to working with the independent judiciary, ministers, system partners and the 19,000 committed civil servants working to deliver modern and efficient courts and tribunals for everyone who relies on them.’

In a LinkedIn post announcing her new role, Lee-Devlin said: ‘My first few days at HMCTS have taken me from Chelmsford and Stoke-on-Trent to Luton and the Royal Courts of Justice, meeting some of our 19,000 colleagues and 23,500 judicial office holders across England and Wales.’

Sarah Sackman, minister for courts and legal services, said: ‘Megan brings the vision and experience HMCTS needs to deliver excellent services for the public, support our dedicated staff and judiciary, and continue the vital work of modernising our courts and tribunals.’

MoJ permanent secretary Jo Farrar added: ‘Megan has an outstanding track record of leading transformation and improving services for users. She brings the leadership and ambition needed to lead HMCTS through its next phase of modernisation.’

Lee-Devlin joined the civil service from the private sector where she worked at IBM, PwC and McKinsey & Company on digital, analytics and organisational transformation. Before joining the MoJ, she was director general of the central digital and data office in the Cabinet Office, overseeing the government’s digital, data and technology function.