Susanna Mason
Susanna Mason is a former senior civil servant at the British Ministry of Defence now employed as a senior partner at PwC Middle East.[1]
Mason left her position as Director General, Commercial, in Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) within the MOD, in February 2016. She had previously worked for PwC prior to 2008.
Mason's initial work with PwC was to be focused on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 'advising government bodies such as the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Labour on job creation, city development and growth areas outside oil including cyber, infrastructure and entertainment'. [2]
Met BAE 40 times about UAE arms deals
According to a PASC inquiry which took evidence from Campaign Against the Arms Trade in 2017:
- from November 2011, when BAE was invited to pitch to the repressive United Arab Emirates, to December 2013 when negotiations broke down, Susanna Mason, the former Director-General Commercial at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) met with BAE to discuss United Arab Emirates 40 times”. [3]
Acoba conditions on Mason's PwC Middle East role
Mason approached the PM's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments for permission to work with PwC, which had previously been awarded a lucrative contract by her department. She told ACOBA that 'her role would be to advise governments and organisations throughout the Middle East on strategies for broadening non-oil revenue sources and achieving fiscal sustainability'. Acoba gave its approval, subject to the following advice:
- When considering this application the Committee took into account that her appointment would not include any contact or dealings with her former department or government more generally. A substantial contract was awarded to PwC by DE&S at MOD while Ms Mason was DG Commercial but the Committee was assured that she had no involvement in granting or managing the contract. The Committee was also assured that she has had no other official dealings with the company, has not been involved in any decisions that might affect the business of PwC with MOD and that she has not been involved in any policy decisions or regulatory work that have affected or could affect PwC or its competitors.
- Ms Mason and PwC expressly confirmed to the Committee that her role would be wholly outside the defence sector and as such she would not be working with Defence departments or the defence industry. The Committee considered that given her previous roles in MOD, and also PwC’s continuing relationship with DE&S, the appointment may give rise to some public concern (unofficial reports about Ms Mason’s appointment to PwC had already appeared in the media). The Committee considered that it was appropriate for there to be a gap between Ms Mason leaving the MoD and taking up a position with PwC.
The Secretary of State for Defence accepted the Committee’s advice that the appointment be subject to the following conditions:
A waiting period of six months from her last day of Crown service;
- She may not contact defence departments of other governments, the defence industry or the UK Ministry of Defence for twenty-four months from her last day of Crown service in her capacity as an employee of PwC;
- For 12 months from her last day of service she should not provide advice to PwC or its clients on the terms of a bid or contract relating directly to the work of the Ministry of Defence;
- She should not draw on any privileged information available to her from her time in Crown service; and
- For two years from her last day in service, she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of PwC, its subsidiaries or clients.
- The Committee subsequently clarified that the waiting period means that Ms Mason may not take up compensated employment with or assignment by PwC in any capacity until 1 September 2016 – 6 months from her last day in Crown Service. This restriction includes any roles and responsibilities for PwC in the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, the Middle East or any other international location.
The letter containing the Committee’s advice was sent in April 2016. [4]
Notes
- ↑ Private Eye 28.7.2017
- ↑ Acoba letter, Susanna Mason, ACOBA, 21 April 2016, published July 2017
- ↑ PASC Report, [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmpubadm/252/252.pdf Managing Ministers’ and officials’ conflicts of interest: time for clearer values, principles and action], Thirteenth Report of Session 2016–17 Report, together with formal minutes relating to the report, Ordered by the House of Commons, 18 April 2017
- ↑ ACOBA, Decision, Summary of business appointment applications - Susanna Mason, Published 19 July 2017, accessed 16 October 2017
