Sir David Nicholson

Sir David Nicholson KCB CBE is an NHS manager and public policy analyst. He served as Chief Executive of NHS England from September 2006 to 31 March 2014, overseeing a £90 billion budget and 1.3 million employees. During his tenure he launched the "Nicholson challenge" regarding NHS finances. His leadership was contentious due to his role overseeing the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority during the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust scandal, where high death rates were attributed to managers' focus on finances and targets. He issued a public apology for the failings.