Following external recruitment campaigns, Fiona Ryland and Mike Potter will join the civil service in the autumn.
Ryland joins from University College London, where she has been vice president operations/chief operating officer. Before joining UCL, she was HR director at Compass Group.
Potter was recently interim executive director, digital transformation & group CIO at Thames Water. He has also held senior roles at the Cabinet Office, HM Revenue and Customs, and the NHS.
Alex Chisholm, civil service chief operating officer and permanent secretary for the Cabinet Office, said: “I am looking forward to welcoming Fiona and Mike to their new roles, both of which are at the centre of our current civil service transformation.
“As the new government chief people officer, Fiona will be leading our HR function at a time of huge change, as we work in partnership with ministers to equip our people to deliver civil service reform. Setting the standard on people issues across the civil service is a tremendous opportunity to focus on skills and professionalisation.
As the new government chief digital officer, Mike will be harnessing the unprecedented opportunities for digital technologies and data across the civil service, strengthening UK government delivery both immediately and in the years to come.
I look forward to working with them both as we continue to reshape the civil service to meet our future challenges head on.”