Alice Perkins

Alice Perkins at Financial Times 125th Anniversary Party, London, in June 2013

Alice Elizabeth Perkins, CB, (born 24 May 1949) is the Chairman of Post Office Ltd., a UK state-owned limited company.^[1] She was appointed to this position in July 2011, to lead the Board following the separation of the Post Office from the Royal Mail under the Postal Services Act 2011.^[2] She is an Executive Coach and a partner in the coaching practice of the JCA Group,^[3] a member of the Faculty of Meyler Campbell, which provides training for business coaches^[4] and has been an external member of the Council of the University of Oxford since 2006. She is a member of the Business Advisory Council of the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford.^[5]

Education

Born in Hampstead, Perkins was educated at North London Collegiate School for Girls,^[6] an independent school in North East London, followed by St Anne's College at the University of Oxford,^[7] from which she graduated in Modern History in 1971.

Life and career

Perkins joined the Civil Service Fast Stream in 1971.^[8] The early years of her career were spent in the Department of Health and Social Security.^[9] In 1993 she moved to the Treasury as Director of Public Spending,^[10] where her priorities were Defence, the Intelligence Agencies, Aid, Foreign Office and Agriculture spending. In 1998 she returned to the Department of Health as Director General for Corporate Management responsible for administration of the Department.^[11] In 2001 Perkins moved to the Cabinet Office to work as Director General, Corporate Development Group,^[12] responsible for human resources across government, top appointments and civil service reform, reporting direct to the Cabinet Secretary. She left the civil service in 2005.^[13]

In early 2006 Perkins joined the board of the airports operator BAA plc,^[14] until its take-over by the Spanish firm Ferrovial later the same year.^[15] She has also served as a non-executive Director on the Board of Littlewoods (1997–2001)^[16] and TNS (the global market information company) where she was also Chair of the Renumeration Committee from 2005 until its takeover by WPP in 2008.^[17]

Perkins is married to Jack Straw. They have two children, Will and Charlotte, both of whom are married. In 2002 she was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).^[18]

References