ɪn mˈeɪ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn, hiː wʌz ɐpˈɔɪntᵻd hˈɛd ʌvðə skˈɑːɾɪʃ ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən dᵻpˈɑːɹtmənt, ænd ɪn mˈɑːɹtʃ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd tˈuː bɪkˌeɪm hˈɛd ʌvðə fˈaɪnæns ænd sˈɛntɹəl sˈɜːvɪsᵻz dᵻpˈɑːɹtmənt.
In May 1999, he was appointed Head of the Scottish Government Education Department, and in March 2002 became Head of the Finance and Central Services Department.