Zia Yusuf’s Rising Influence: Reform UK’s New Policy Chief and DOGE Leader

A Dynamic Political Journey

Muhammad Ziauddin Yusuf, who has served as the head of Reform UK Department of Government Efficiency since June 2025, previously held the position of Chairman of Reform UK from July 2024 until his resignation in June 2025.

Recent Developments and New Roles

In a dramatic turn of events, Yusuf recently shocked party colleagues by announcing his resignation, stating he no longer believed working to get a Reform government elected was a good use of his time. However, he returned less than 48 hours later to take on an Elon Musk-style role as Reform UK’s Head of DOGE. Furthermore, he has now been announced as the party’s Head of Policy.

In his role leading the DOGE team, Yusuf is tasked with identifying waste within Reform’s 10 party-controlled councils across the country. He has assembled a team of software engineers, data analysts, and forensic auditors to conduct reviews. The initiative targets various forms of waste, such as councils speaking to single bidders for multi-million pound contracts or issuing 27-year-long deals for highways works.

Background and Business Success

Before his political career, Yusuf built a successful career in finance, working at prestigious institutions like Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs. He co-founded Velocity Black, a luxury concierge company, which he successfully sold to Capital One in 2023 for £233 million.

Future Prospects

Looking ahead, Yusuf’s expanded role includes opening a department focused on preparing for government, while party leader Nigel Farage suggests a general election could come as soon as 2027. In addition to his policy and DOGE responsibilities, he will assist the party with fundraising and media appearances, remaining ‘an important part of the team’ being built to fight and win the next general election.