Alex Chisholm, a former head of the competition and markets authority, is unlikely to push for radical reforms

Boris Johnson has turned to a Whitehall insider to lead the government’s civil service reform programme in a sign that Downing Street’s early enthusiasm for radical change may be waning.

Alex Chisholm, permanent secretary at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, will move to the Cabinet Office to become second in command of the civil service next month.

He will replace John Manzoni, the civil service chief executive and a former BP executive, who was brought in to sharpen up Whitehall’s commercial skills.

The appointment of Mr Chisholm, a former head of the competition and markets authority, suggests that Mr Johnson is looking for evolution rather than revolution in Whitehall.

Mr Chisholm, 52, is seen as an effective operator but he is unlikely