18.03.20
NICE appoints Professor Gillian Leng as new chief executive
Current Deputy Chief Executive at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Professor Gillian Leng CBE, has been appointed as the organisation’s new Chief Executive.
Professor Leng has held her current post since 2007 and already serves as NICE’s Director of Health and Social Care. She will take up her new role on April 1, 2020 when the current Chief Executive Sir Andrew Dillon, who has led the organisation since it was established in 1999, steps down.
The decision to appoint Professor Leng was made by the non-executive members of NICE’s board following a period of open competition.
NICE Interim Chair Tim Irish said: “The Board of NICE is delighted to appoint Gill to the role of Chief Executive. NICE has a unique and unparalleled history and we wish to thank Andrew for his outstanding leadership over the last two decades. Looking ahead, NICE has a very exciting and ambitious future, and the Board is unanimously agreed that Gill has the leadership qualities to take us forward.”
Outgoing Chief Executive Sir Dillon added: “I am delighted that Gill has been appointed as NICE’s next Chief Executive. She is an outstanding leader and has all the qualities needed to lead the organisation into its third decade. I am entirely confident that NICE will be safe and successful in her hands.”
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A visiting professor at King’s College London, Professor Leng has a wealth of expertise and has previously worked on clinical trials and epidemiological research in Edinburgh and as a consultant in public health medicine in London during her career.
While at NICE, she has been responsible for the initial setting up and running of the clinical guidelines programme, for establishing the NICE implementation function and for setting up NHS Evidence. She has also been responsible for a range of other functions, including the NICE accreditation programme, guideline development in social care, and the NICE programmes of indicators and quality standards.
Speaking of the new appointment, Professor Leng said: “Under Andrew’s leadership NICE has gained a formidable reputation both nationally and internationally as a world leader in guidance development.
“I am honoured and privileged to have been appointed as its second Chief Executive.
“I look forward to working with the Institute’s staff and stakeholders as we enter an exciting new chapter of innovative changes to deliver our portfolio of guidance into the hands of frontline staff in an easy and intuitive way.”