New NHS Blood and Transplant Chief Executive announced

Experienced NHS leader, Frances O’Callaghan, will be the new Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant. She is expected to take up the role on 1 February 2026.

Currently the CEO of the North Central and North West London Integrated Care Boards, Frances joins NHSBT with more than 20 years' experience of leadership roles in the NHS in London.

Frances was CEO for North Central London Integrated Care Board since it formed in July 2022, where she focused on reforming both the ICB and improving the Integrated Care System and its service to patients and residents, driving organisational and system strategy to deliver high performance.

Over 20 years, she has helped shape London’s healthcare, running frontline services, setting bold strategy, always pushing for fairer outcomes, and addressing health inequalities as part of her wider commitment to social justice.

Frances has worked across London in executive roles in acute and community NHS Trusts, a stint in the private sector in corporate finance at Price Waterhouse Cooper where she fused clinical know-how with financial rigour, and had a key role in launching King’s Health Partners, one of the UK’s flagship academic health-science centres.

Frances recently completed a UCL MA in Politics, Philosophy & Economics, which informs her drive to close health gaps - an issue she is deeply passionate about.