UK Government has appointed Abi Tierney as the new Director General (DG) of Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). In this role, Tierney will be responsible for leading a workforce of around 10,000 UKVI employees and 3,500 HMPO employees, based in locations around the UK and overseas.
A thorough professional and highly qualified woman, Abi Tierney Tierney brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role having previously held leadership roles in several large, high profile organisations. Tierney was previously working as a Business Development Director at Serco Health and director at University Hospitals Leicester and Aberdeen City Council, and Marketing Leader for IBM’s Global Services Business. Abi has a first class degree in History and Philosophy of Science and a PhD on innovation and creativity.
UKVI manages approximately 4 million visa applications a year from those who wish to come to the UK to visit, study or work, as well as thousands of decisions on asylum and resettlement. The role of DG UKVI has gain significant important since the Brexit as the UKVI had to deals with issue of the EU citizens living in the UK.
HMPO issues approximately 7 million passports and 1 million birth, adoption, death, civil partnership and marriage certificates each year. It also receives approximately 1.8 million life-event registrations from partners in the local registration service. As Director General of these directorates, Abi Tierney will be responsible for maintaining a firm emphasis on national security and a culture of excellent customer service, while ensuring a focus on high quality decision making.
The Home Office Second Permanent Secretary, Shona Dunn, said Abi brings with her a wealth of experience both in the private and public sector, which I know she will put to excellent use in leading her organisation through the coming years and continuing to deliver for the government and the public. I know everyone will want to welcome Abi and I am very much looking forward to working with her.The new Director General for UKVI and HMPO, Abi Tierney said that I’m delighted to have been appointed DG for UKVI and HMPO. They are both vital organisations entering a hugely exciting time. As we transform many systems and processes within these institutions, I will engage with my teams to ensure that the already high levels of customer service are maintained and operations remain efficient and effective.
