Top Jersey civil servant becomes Isle of Man's first COO

Friday 01 September 2023

A Jersey senior civil servant – who left a top role after less than two years in the job, but later returned on a fixed-term contract – is joining the Isle of Man Government.

Dr Megan Mathias was Director of Delivery and Improvement in Jersey’s Cabinet Office and received an MBE three years ago for her role in the island’s covid response.

She has now been appointed Chief Operating Officer for the Isle of Man’s Cabinet Office.

The Isle of Man Government said that the appointment of Dr Mathias had followed a review of the previous role of the Chief Secretary. It said that the new COO role, which will start in November, will “support the delivery of programmes and cross-departmental initiatives while also heading up central operational functions.”

Dr Mathias joined Jersey’s civil service as Group Director - Policy in January 2019 - one of six new recruits brought on board as part of Chief Executive Charlie Parker’s ‘OneGov’ reforms. She left in September 2020 after less than two years in the job, but subsequently returned on a fixed-term contract.

Before coming to Jersey, her career spanned senior roles at Serco, the Welsh Government, the New Zealand Government, the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government and the Wales Centre for Public Policy. It is understood that she returned to Wales.

Commenting on her new appointment in the Isle of Man, Dr Mathias said: “I’m very much looking forward to taking up my new post and to supporting the delivery of Government programmes. I am excited to be working with new colleagues on our delivery of public services to the Isle of Man Community.”