Care Quality Commission welcomes new addition to board its

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has today announced the completion of its board, with the appointment of non-executive board member John Harwood.

John is a former senior civil servant and local authority chief executive. He retired in 2008 from the Food Standards Agency where he was the chief executive. He served for almost twenty years as the chief executive of Lewisham Borough Council and of Oxfordshire County Council. In 2000, he moved to central government to be the founding chief executive of the Learning and Skills Council. He spent 2004 as the interim chief executive of Cumbria County Council before later moving to the FSA.

John Harwood said; “I am very pleased to have been asked to join the CQC board. The Commission has a vital role to play in improving and maintaining the quality of health and social care across the country and I look forward to working with colleagues on the board and in the executive team in facing the challenges ahead over the next few years.”

Dame Jo Williams, CQC’s acting chair, said: "I welcome the appointment of John to our six-strong board. He will bring a great deal of knowledge and experience of local government and regulation to this important role and help us to push ahead with the Commission's ambitious programme of work to improve health and social care services."

The five non-executive board members already in post are:

· Jo Williams (currently the acting chair of the CQC);
· Kay Sheldon;
· Olu Olasode;
· Professor Deirdre Kelly;
· Martin Marshall;


This appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. In this case John Harwood has declared no political activity or ministerial appointments

John Harwood is appointed to serve from the 4 March 2010 to the 3 March 2014

His remuneration for the role of board director is £7,752 per annum, plus travel and subsistence expenses