Penny Ciniewicz, chief executive of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), has been hired as head of HMRC’s customer compliance group taking over from Jennie Granger who stepped down in May and Angela MacDonald, currently operational excellence director in HMRC, will take on Ruth Owen’s old role of customer services group head, although both are relatively new to tax
Penny Ciniewicz will return to HMRC on 4 September to become director general for customer compliance, which includes compliance for all customer groups, from large businesses to individuals, as well as HMRC’s counter-avoidance and fraud investigation functions.
Prior to being CEO of the VOA, Ciniewicz was director of knowledge, analysis and intelligence at HMRC from 2007 to 2009 and has also been principal private secretary to the Cabinet Secretary and director aerospace and defence at the Department for Trade and Industry, holding both roles for only two years.
Granger held the role of director general for customer service for nearly five years after joining HMRC in October 2012 from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), where she worked as a commissioner law, responsible for a range of ATO expert areas; including the ATO’s law practice responsible for interpretation of the tax and superannuation laws, and the government and Treasury relationships, including ATO input into design and implementation of new laws.
On her appointment, Penny Ciniewicz said: ‘It’s a privilege to be returning to HMRC after nearly eight years as chief executive for the VOA. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to build on the work of Jennie Granger in ensuring we reduce the tax gap and promote compliance, ensuring we bring in the money that pays for the UK’s public services.’
Angela MacDonald will become head of customer service after Ruth Owen stepped down from the post in May, at the same time as Granger.
MacDonald will take up her new role on 7 August. She was appointed director for operational excellence at HMRC in January 2017 and has previously been operational excellence director at the Department for Work and Pensions from 2013 to 2017. Prior to joining the Civil Service, MacDonald worked in the financial services sector.
Angela MacDonald said: ‘As operational excellence director, I see firsthand the commitment and passion among our people for delivering high-quality customer service. This is a fantastic opportunity and it is a privilege to follow in Ruth Owen’s footsteps, investing in and building the best service we can for all our customers, now and in the future.’
Melissa Tatton, currently director for individuals and small business compliance at HMRC, will replace Ciniewicz as CEO of the VOA.
Jon Thompson, chief executive of HMRC, said: 'I’d like to congratulate Melissa, Penny and Angela on their appointments, and am delighted to welcome them to HMRC’s Executive Committee. They bring a wealth of capability, leadership and experience with them, and will have vital roles to play in helping build our future and achieve our vision of becoming a world-class organisation.'
In June 2017, David Richardson was named as interim director general for customer compliance and Rachel McLean replaced Owen in an interim role as director general for customer services.
