Second think tank chief stands down

Richard Murray, the chief executive of the health service’s best known think tank – The King’s Fund – will step down later this year.

Mr Murray is retiring to “spend more time with his family and friends”.

The former NHS England chief analyst announced his departure just over a month after another long-serving think tank chief – Nuffield Trust’s Nigel Edwards – revealed he was leaving.

The imminent exit of Mr Murray and Mr Edwards leaves The Health Foundation’s Jennifer Dixon as by far the most experienced think tank leader. She has been in post since 2013, having joined from the Nuffield Trust, which she ran for five years.

Mr Murray joined The King’s Fund in 2014 from NHSE. Before that, he had worked for the Department of Health as director of strategy, director of financial planning and chief economist.

He originally joined the think tank as director of policy, before succeeding Chris Ham as chief executive in 2019.

Mr Murray is a much quoted commentator on the NHS and a regular contributor to HSJ.

Commenting on his announcement, Mr Murray said: “Health and care services, and the people who rely on them, are facing the most difficult circumstances I can remember. But I have met many talented people working in this sector, and I have seen services rebuild from deep challenges in the past. I will be leaving this role with hope for the future.”