Prof Jonathan Benger named as NICE's new CEO
Prof Jonathan Benger is currently deputy CEO of the health technology assessment (HTA) agency.
Prof Jonathan Benger will take over from Dr Samantha Roberts as chief executive of UK reimbursement authority NICE later this week.
Benger – a specialist in emergency medicine by training – is currently deputy CEO of the health technology assessment (HTA) agency and has held various other roles there since being appointed chief medical officer in January 2023.
His CV also includes spells as interim chief clinical information officer at NHS England and chief medical officer of NHS Digital, and he also continues to practice as a consultant in emergency medicine at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and work shifts with the Great Western Air Ambulance – a charity he helped to set up.
Benger will take over from Roberts – who was named CEO in 2021 and announced her decision to step down in the summer – on Friday, at a time of considerable change at NICE.
The agency is in the midst of an effort to work more closely with the UK medicines regulator, the MHRA, to develop a faster, more streamlined access pathway for innovative medicines and technologies through the NHS as part of the government's latest 10-year plan for the health service.
The plan aims to cut review times for new medicines, expand the HTA's technology appraisal process to cover devices, diagnostics, and digital products, with new powers to remove outdated tech from the NHS, and rolling re-evaluations of priority clinical pathways.
Benger will also step into the role as NICE changes baseline cost-effectiveness thresholds to increase the net prices that the NHS pays for new medicines by around 25% under the recently announced UK-US pharma trade deal.
"I’m delighted to announce Jonathan's appointment," said Sharmila Nebhrajani, NICE's chairman.
"He has been a key member of the NICE leadership team, responsible for some critical elements of our transformation over the last three years," she added. "Jonathan is widely respected in the sector and his extensive front-line clinical and national policy experience make him supremely well placed to lead our organisation through the next phase of its development."
MHRA CEO Lawrence Tallon said the regulator is looking forward to working closely with Professor Benger and NICE to deliver on shared priorities for patients and the health system.
"Collaboration between the MHRA and NICE has never been more important as we work to accelerate innovation while maintaining the highest standards of safety and effectiveness," he added. "His experience and clinical insight will help us deliver on this together."
