• NHS Improvement chair Ed Smith announces retirement from his role in the summer
• Ed Smith’s leadership helped to establish the credibility of NHS Improvement, and win the confidence of the provider sector
• We thank Ed Smith for his “major contribution” and say he will leave a valuable legacy in vital role

Ed Smith has today (2 March) announced that he will be retiring from his role as chair of NHS Improvement in the summer.

Ed was appointed in July 2015 to oversee the creation of NHS Improvement, which was officially launched on 1 April  2016.

Responding to the resignation of NHS Improvement chair Ed Smith, chair for NHS Providers, Gill Morgan said:

"We would like to thank Ed Smith for his major contribution as chairman of NHS Improvement. Working alongside chief executive Jim Mackey, Ed’s leadership helped to establish the credibility of NHS Improvement, winning the confidence of the provider sector.

"We especially valued his commitment to making NHS Improvement an organisation that sought to support, rather than force, providers into action at a time of unprecedented challenge for the sector.

Working alongside chief executive Jim Mackey, Ed’s leadership helped to establish the credibility of NHS Improvement, winning the confidence of the provider sector.

"His personal engagement with the leadership development and improvement agenda leaves a valuable legacy.

"At a time of extreme pressure on the NHS provider sector, the role of the most senior leadership at NHS Improvement is vital.

"Ed's successor should be someone who has credibility and authority with the provider sector, and is prepared to act without fear or favour towards the government. A key priority must be to complete the important process of cultural change on which NHS Improvement has embarked to ensure the entire organisation lives the values and behaviours that Ed and Jim Mackey have modelled."