The deputy chief executive of a major London NHS trust and a former civil servant has been named as the next chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Lawrence Tallon, who has served as deputy chief at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust for the last five years, will take up his new role on 1 April.
He succeeds Dame June Raine, who is retiring after leading the medicines regulator since 2019.
Tallon began his civil service career in 2002 in the Fast Stream before moving to the then-Department of Health. There he worked as private secretary to the health secretary before spending three years as deputy director and head of office for the department’s NHS leadership team.
Alongside his role at Guy’s and St Thomas’, Tallon is managing director of the Shelford Group, a collaboration between ten of the largest teaching and research NHS hospital trusts in England. The group provides system leadership and peer support between its member organisations, as well as working to influence NHS and government policy on healthcare and life sciences.
His experience leading the group has given Tallon “valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing modern healthcare systems”, DHSC said in its announcement.
He is also a partner at KHP Ventures, a collaboration between King’s College London, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust that provides equity investments and healthcare expertise for medtech and digital startups.
Previously, Tallon was director of strategy, planning and performance at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and worked within the Department of Health and Social Care alongside ministers and NHS leaders.
He also spent five years at the Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar’s not-for-profit healthcare provider, where he was executive director of corporate policy.
Health secretary Wes Streeting Tallon’s appointment marks “an important new chapter for the MHRA”.
“MHRA’s work is mission critical to making the NHS fit for the future. There is a revolution taking place in life sciences, with new innovative medicines developed more frequently than ever before. We need the MHRA to work much faster so patients can benefit as soon as possible, and I’m confident that Lawrence is the man for the job,” he said.
“The agency plays a crucial role in protecting public health and promoting medical innovation and, under Lawrence’s leadership, I am confident it will continue to be a world-leading regulator.
“I want to thank Dame June and wish her all the best in her retirement.”
MHRC chair Prof Anthony Harnden said: “Lawrence is an impressive leader who brings with him a wealth of experience from across the healthcare sector, nationally and globally. I look forward to working with him to maintain the UK as a global centre of excellence in life sciences and strengthening safety systems in the best interests of patients and the public.
“I would also like to give enormous thanks to Dame June Raine, who is handing the baton on to Lawrence after more than 5 years of being MHRA CEO and nearly 40 illustrious years at the agency. June’s leadership and unwavering commitment to patient and public health cannot be overstated.”