CPS appoints new Director General from DVLA

A new Director General will take up post at the Crown Prosecution Service this Autumn, the organisation has announced.

Julie Lennard, who has been Chief Executive Officer at the DVLA since 2018, has been appointed and is expected to take up her role as Director General and Chief Operating Officer on Monday 25 November 2024.

Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “Julie brings a wealth of valuable skills and experience to the CPS – not least her work to successfully lead the digital and business transformation of the DVLA.

“She has also transformed the way customers interact with the organisation with some truly impressive results. I am very much looking forward to welcoming Julie to our Executive team in the Autumn.”

In her new role, Julie will work with partners to direct significant change across the criminal justice system. She will be responsible for overseeing transformation and improvement within the CPS, as well as setting the overall strategy for the organisation’s corporate functions, including Finance, People, and Digital.  

Julie Lennard said: “I joined the DVLA ten years ago, and it has been an amazing place to work. I’ve spent the last six of those years as CEO and it’s been a privilege to lead such a brilliant organisation and such a talented team of people.  

“The role has been very rewarding but the opportunity to join the Crown Prosecution Service as Director General was just too good an opportunity to miss. It’s a fascinating time to join and I’m looking forward to meeting the team and helping to lead the CPS to an exciting future.”

Julie joined DVLA in 2014 as Director of Strategy, Policy and Communications, where she was responsible for delivering the organisation’s business strategy and policy development. Julie oversaw a Directorate that includes data protection, parliamentary liaison and communications. Before joining DVLA, Julie worked in several roles at The National Archives and prior to that she worked for Which?, the largest consumer organisation in Europe.

Around 7,000 people work for the CPS, across England and Wales in a range of roles. Almost half of employees are lawyers, who are responsible for deciding whether to prosecute cases, and represent the Crown at many hearings in the courts.