Appointment of Chief Executive and Director General of Health

The State Services Commissioner, Iain Rennie, today announced the appointment of Kevin Woods to the position of Chief Executive and Director-General of Health, Ministry of Health.

Dr Woods is currently the Director General for Health and Chief Executive, National Health Service (NHS) Scotland, a position within the Scottish Government, to which he was appointed in January 2005.

“Dr Woods is an experienced chief executive and a very strong leader who has held senior management roles in the health sector in England and Scotland since 1990.

“Dr Woods is responsible for a budget of over £11 billion. The NHS in Scotland employs over 150,000 staff through 22 NHS Boards. He has played a leading role in the development of health policy in Scotland and implemented a delivery management system which has helped to secure improved performance by NHS Boards,” Iain Rennie said.

In July 2008, Dr Woods was also appointed as the Scottish Government’s Advocate for the Armed Forces and Veterans. In this role he is responsible for ensuring that government commitments to support military personnel and veterans in Scotland are delivered.

Immediately prior to his current responsibilities, Dr Woods was the Chief Executive of the North Central London, Strategic Health Authority. Before that he was the Director of Health Policy and Strategy at the Avon Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority, including a period as Acting Chief Executive.

He has also been the William R Lindsay Professor of Health Policy and Economic Evaluation at the University of Glasgow, and the Director of Strategy and Performance Management at the Scottish Executive Health Department.

Dr Woods has a Doctor of Philosophy and Bachelor of Science (Honours), Geography, from the University of London, and is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health.

Dr Woods’ term is for three years and will begin in early in 2011. Mr Andrew Bridgman is the Acting Chief Executive currently and has agreed to continue in this role until Dr Woods takes up his position.

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Statement attributable to Dr Woods:

"I am delighted to have been appointed as Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health. I am planning to visit my new colleagues in the near future, and look forward to moving to New Zealand and starting my new job in early 2011."

ENDS

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