Simon Bolton appointed interim CEO of NHS Digital

NHS Digital has announced that Simon Bolton has been appointed as its interim CEO

Simon Bolton will officially take on his new role of interim CEO on 4th June 2021 when Sarah Wilkinson, who has been CEO of the organisation for four years, steps down.

Mr Bolton comes from Test and Trace where he has been Chief Information Officer since August 2020.

Simon said: “It is a privilege to join this organisation at such an important stage. The appetite for digitisation within the NHS presents a huge opportunity for all of us working in the health tech sector and my ambition is for NHS Digital to be at the forefront, driving innovation and developing solutions and new capabilities.

“What NHS Digital has achieved during the pandemic has been remarkable and I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues to continue to deliver for patients and the frontline.”

Chair of the NHS Digital Board, Laura Wade-Gery, said:

“We are delighted that Simon is joining NHS Digital at what is a time of tremendous opportunity for us.

“The organisation has shown what it is capable of during the pandemic. It has stepped up and delivered digital programmes at unprecedented scale and pace which have undoubtably helped save lives.

“Simon will provide strong leadership for the organisation to maintain this momentum and build on what has been achieved over the last year, supporting and driving forward the wider NHS agenda of simultaneous restoration and transformation of services with digital at its heart.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Sarah for her commitment, her dedication, and her outstanding leadership over the last four years.”