John Quinn, former chief information officer at NHS England (Credit: Andreea Radu)<\/p>\n
NHS England is seeking an interim chief information officer (CIO) following the departure of John Quinn last year.<\/strong><\/p>\n Quinn left the CIO role in March 2025 because of \u201ca mix of professional and personal considerations\u201d after holding the post for two years.<\/p>\n At the time, NHSE said that it would be conducting a search for a permanent CIO and would put in place interim arrangements \u201cin the coming weeks\u201d, but the interim post has not been advertised until now.<\/p>\n A job advert<\/a> describes the role, with a starting salary of \u00a3161,601, as \u201ca rare opportunity for a senior leader with deep experience of large-scale digital, technology and cyber-critical environments to operate at the heart of one of the UK\u2019s most complex and mission-critical systems\u201d. <\/p>\n It adds that the chosen candidate will report to the director general for technology, digital and data, a role currently held by Jules Hunt on an interim basis, and be \u201caccountable for the provision, resilience and evolution of digital and technology capabilities that underpin the NHS\u201d.<\/p>\n NHSE says the role \u201ccarries national responsibility, significant influence, and the chance to make a tangible difference to patient care, workforce experience and value for the taxpayer\u201d.<\/p>\n The interim CIO will work in close partnership with NHSE\u2019s chief data and analytics officer (CDAO), a role which will be come available in April 2026 when\u00a0 Ming Tang steps down<\/a>.<\/p>\n Leadership for national data and analytics services<\/p>\n A job advert<\/a> for the position of interim CDAO says that the chosen candidate will \u201cprovide strategic and professional leadership for national data and analytics services, ensuring that high-quality, timely and secure data underpins clinical care, operational performance, planning, research and innovation\u201d.<\/p>\n The interim CDAO position, with a starting salary of \u00a3161,601, will be \u201caccountable for building and leading a world-class data and analytics function for NHS England and the wider health and care system,\u201d.<\/p>\n They will also be responsible for \u201cmajor national programmes, significant investment, and stewardship of sensitive health data on behalf of citizens\u201d.<\/p>\n Both the interim CIO and interim CDAO roles are for 12-month fixed term contracts.<\/p>\n There have been several departures from NHSE\u2019s digital leadership since prime minister Keir Starmer that the organisation would be abolished<\/a> and brought into into the Department of Health and Social Care last year.<\/p>\n This week, Mike Fell, director of national cyber operations at NHSE, shared that he is stepping down<\/a> in mid-May to move to Department for Work and Pensions.<\/p>\n