Supermarket exec moves to DHSC

A supermarket chain executive has been named as the new chief commercial officer for the Department of Health and Social Care.

Stuart Nelson announced he would be leaving Morrisons for the civil service at the weekend. 

He has held a number of roles at the supermarket chain since 2019, including head of procurement, European sourcing and pharmacy. 

Mr Nelson said he was “excited for the new challenge” in a post announcing the move on LinkedIn. 

DHSC launched its search for a new chief commercial officer – who will manage total commercial spend, deliver savings targets, and manage a variety of procurement activities – last year.

Responsibilities will include assurance of the New Hospital Programme porfolio, increasing strategic supplier relationship management, and digital transformation, according to an advert last year. 

It comes at a time of significant change and scrutiny of healthcare procurement, and the Labour manifesto promising “an NHS innovation and adoption strategy [including] include a plan for procurement, giving a clearer route to get products into the NHS, coupled with reformed incentive structures to drive innovation and faster regulatory approval for new technology and medicines”.

The role was previously held by Steve Oldfield who left in 2022.