Chief Executive of NHS Scotland appointed

Christine McLaughlin CBE has been appointed as the Scottish Government’s Director General for Health and Social Care and Chief Executive of NHS Scotland.

She will lead NHS Scotland through an ambitious programme of reform focused on improving outcomes for people, strengthening performance and ensuring the sustainability of services.

Christine previously served as Chief Operating Officer & Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and has held a number of Director roles in the Scottish Government. 

She began her career as a management trainee in NHS Scotland and has worked across the UK in management consulting roles, delivering major public service transformation, before joining the Scottish Government in 2010. 

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care, Angela Constance, said:

“Our NHS reforms will remove duplication, variability, organisational boundaries and bureaucracy to ensure people across Scotland regardless of where they live receive the best treatment and care.

“I am pleased to welcome Christine to this significant and influential leadership role in the Scottish health sector.  Her extensive leadership experience and a strong track record of delivering change across complex systems will be an asset in delivering our ambition for sustainable, high-quality health and social care services for Scotland.”

DG Health and Social Care, Christine McLaughlin, said:

“It is an absolute privilege to be appointed to this role at such a pivotal moment for our health and care services, supporting the government’s ambitious programme of reform.  I look forward to working with people across the system to continue to improve services and deliver better outcomes for the people of Scotland.”  

Background

Christine McLaughlin has been interim Director General since the retirement of Caroline Lamb in August 2026.  She previously served as Chief Operating Officer & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Scotland and has held a number of Director roles in the Scottish Government spanning Population Health, the Covid-19 response, Finance and Digital. 

The position was recruited through a fair and open competitive process, chaired by a Civil Service Commissioner in line with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles for Senior Civil Service roles at this level.