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The chief executive of the Welsh NHS has been appointed as the most senior civil servant in the Welsh Government.

Dr Andrew Goodall CBE will succeed Dame Shan Morgan as the new Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Government, and will be responsible for 5,000 staff.

The role will also see Dr Goodall become the principal policy adviser to First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Dr Goodall, who was Chief Executive of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board until he took up his role with the Welsh NHS in 2014, said it was a “great honour” to take up his new position.

He said: “There are major challenges ahead but I am confident that we can rise to them by working together, and building on the foundations that Shan has laid over the last five years.”

Permanent Secretaries are appointed on a fixed five-year contract.

The appointment was welcomed by Mr Drakeford, who said he was delighted Dr Goodall was taking up the role “as we build a stronger, fairer and greener Wales together beyond the pandemic”.

Mr Drakeford also thanked the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Dame Morgan, for her service in the role.

Dame Morgan said: “I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked with such a fantastic group of people on things that have made a huge difference to people in Wales at one of the most challenging times in our history.

“Although much of my time has inevitably been spent firefighting, my focus as Permanent Secretary has been to try to develop a more resilient, skilled and capable civil service for the future, as well as making the organisation a fairer, more inclusive place to work.

“I wish Andrew all the best and will be working closely with him as he takes up the role.”