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Sir Ciarán Devane has been appointed chief executive of the new membership body formed from the merger between NHS Providers and the NHS Confederation.
Sir Ciarán, who is currently chair of Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE), will become the inaugural chief executive of the organisation, which will represent frontline NHS organisations across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The new body has been created to provide an independent and influential voice for NHS leaders, supporting members across the healthcare system to drive improvement and improve population health.
Sir Ciarán brings extensive leadership experience across health, social care and the wider public and voluntary sectors. As chair of the HSE since 2019, he has overseen services delivered by more than 150,000 staff across hospitals, community healthcare, social care, mental health, disability services and ambulance services. His previous roles include chief executive of the British Council, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support – for which he received a knighthood in 2015 for services to cancer patients – and executive director of the Centre for Peace and Security at Coventry University. He also served as a non-executive director on the NHS England board between 2012 and 2015.
Lord Victor Adebowale, chair of the joint board between NHS Providers and the NHS Confederation, said Sir Ciarán’s appointment followed a “highly competitive and rigorous process” and described him as a strong leader to guide the new organisation at a critical time for the NHS. He also paid tribute to Daniel Elkeles and Matthew Taylor for their leadership in bringing the two organisations together.
Professor Sir Terence Stephenson, vice chair of the joint board, said members had sought a more unified and influential voice for the NHS, adding that Sir Ciarán’s appointment marked a “pivotal step” towards achieving that goal.
Sir Ciarán said he was honoured to lead the new organisation, describing the merger as an opportunity to create a single, powerful voice to support NHS leaders and staff and help improve care for local communities.
Plans for the merger were confirmed in October 2025 following extensive engagement with members. The legal merger concluded on 13 January, with the new membership body set to formally launch in April. Its name and branding will be announced in due course, with both organisations continuing to operate under their existing identities until then.
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