THE RUNNERS AND RIDERS WHO COULD STEP INTO SIR MARK’S SHOES?

ANTONIA ROMEO

Permanent secretary at the Department for International Trade since 2017. She started her career in the private sector at strategic consultancy firm Oliver Wyman before joining the civil service in 2000 as a professional economist. Within the civil service, she was previously Her Majesty’s consul general in New York and director general, Economic and Commercial Affairs USA, and special envoy to the US technology companies, based in New York.

SIMON CASE

Permanent secretary at No10, brought in during the coronavirus crisis. Among the government roles he has held, in January 2016 he was appointed as the Prime

Minister’s principal private secretary. He became private secretary to the Duke of Cambridge in 2018, but while popular in Downing Street, he is expected to return to the Palace.

CHRIS WORMALD

Permanent secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care since 2016. Previously been the permanent secretary for the Department for

Education and held several roles in the Cabinet Office including director general in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office during the coalition government. A “classic candidate”.

TOM SCHOLAR

Permanent secretary at the Treasury since 2016. He was Gordon Brown’s first principal private secretary when he was chancellor and his chief of staff when Brown was prime minister. David Cameron’s principal adviser on the European Union. A “very strong candidate” but believed to be unlikely to be high on No 10’s list.