Six business leaders have been appointed by the Cabinet Office as new Crown Representatives as part of a strategy to improve the Whitehall’s procurement.

The new Crown Representatives will undertake to increase efficiencies and reduce the numbers of poorly managed contracts in order to promote value for money through their private sector expertise and experience.

The appointment of six additional Crown Representatives brings their total to 21, with the new recruits having backgrounds in financial services, telecommunications, consultancy and defence.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said: “As part of this Government's long-term economic plan we are driving down the cost of Whitehall, saving £10 billion last year alone. Hard-working taxpayers expect us to get best value for their money so we are now using experts to scrutinise contracts and negotiate with suppliers. With hundreds of millions already saved through the existing Crown Representatives, these new additions will help us do even more".

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