The RSPCA has appointed a senior Home Office civil servant to be its next chief executive.

Joanna Rowland joins in December from the government department after serving as its director general for the customer services group since last year.

She previously worked at His Majesty’s Customs & Revenue where she headed up its COVID-19 response and was also director general for transformation.

Her other government roles include working on the criminal justice efficiency programme at the Ministry of Justice and as a programme director at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

She has also been Home Office ethics advisor; a role created in response to the Windrush immigration scandal.

“Joanna is a strategic and transformational leader who has devoted her career to public service and she is passionate about building a better society for all,” said RSPCA chair Amanda Bringans.

“Animals are facing the biggest challenges in our 200-year history, and her leadership will be vital in helping to deliver the societal change we need to see.

“We are thrilled that she will now be bringing her extensive expertise and experience to improve the lives of animals.”

Rowland replaces interim CEO Shān Nicholas, who has been in post since January after the charity’s last permanent CEO Chris Sherwood left to take the same role at NSPCC.

“As a lifelong animal lover, I am thrilled to be joining this vital organisation which has delivered so much for animals through its long history,” said Rowland, who owns three RSPCA rescue cats.

“I have spent my career as a public servant, leading large scale organisations each dedicated to the important mission of improving people’s lives and I am looking forward to bringing my expertise to an organisation that transforms the lives of animals.”

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