Sir Nicholas Macpherson, KCB (born 1959) is a senior British civil servant, serving as the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury since 2 August 2005. He succeeded Sir Gus O'Donnell upon the latter's promotion to Cabinet Secretary.
From 2004 to 2005 Macpherson managed the Budget and Public Finance Directorate, where he was responsible for tax policy and the budget process. Prior to that, he was head of the Public Services Directorate (2001 to 2004), where he managed the 2000 and 2002 spending review processes. Previous Treasury posts included Director of Welfare Reform (1998 to 2001) and Principal Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1993 to 1997), where he oversaw the transition from Kenneth Clarke to Gordon Brown as Chancellor.
Macpherson joined the civil service in 1985 after working as an economist at the CBI and Peat Marwick Consulting.[1] He was educated at Eton College, Balliol College, Oxford and University College London.
Macpherson was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2009 New Year Honours.[2]
| Preceded by Sir John Gieve |
Managing Director, Public Services HM Treasury 2001-2004 |
Succeeded by Jonathan Stephens |
| Preceded by Sir Robert Culpin |
Managing Director, Budget and Public Finances HM Treasury 2004-2005 |
Succeeded by Mark Neale as Managing Director, Budget, Tax and Welfare[3] |
| Preceded by Sir Gus O'Donnell |
Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury 2005- |
Succeeded by Incumbent |