Ms Wendy Becker and Ms Michelle Mitchell have been appointed by the Secretary of State for Health as Non-Executive Directors of NHS England for four years from 1 March 2016.

Wendy Becker is currently Deputy Chairman of Cancer Research UK, a non-executive director of Whitbread plc and a trustee of the Prince’s Trust. She was with McKinsey and Co for 15 years, nine of them as partner, and subsequently has been CEO of Jack Wills Ltd, Global Chief Marketing Officer of Vodafone plc and CEO (Residential) of the Talktalk Group.

Michelle Mitchell has since 2013 been CEO of the MS Society, and was previously Charity Director General of Age UK. She is a trustee of the King’s Fund, of The Power to Change Trust and of the MS International Federation.

The Chairman of NHS England, Sir Malcolm Grant, said: “I am delighted with these appointments. Wendy Becker and Michelle Mitchell will bring fresh insights and will contribute to the strategic strength of the Board, drawing on their outstanding records of success in commercial organisations and the third sector. We look forward very much to their joining the team and working with us in delivering the vision of the NHS Five Year Forward View.”