PSNC has appointed Simon Dukes as its new chief executive officer, the organisation has announced.

Simon has been the CEO of Cifas, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, since 2013, and will take over from the current PSNC chief executive, Sue Sharpe, in May 2018.

Mr Dukes said: “Community pharmacies perform a vital role for the citizen, and I am very pleased indeed to have been selected as the new CEO for PSNC. I look forward to working with the chairman, members and PSNC team to help develop the NHS community pharmacy service for the future.”

PSNC Chairman Sir Mike Pitt said: “I am very pleased Simon will be joining us as CEO. PSNC appointed recruitment consultants to advise and assist our Appointments Panel in a rigorous search and selection programme, to ensure it found the best possible candidate for this important and complex role. The Appointments Panel was unanimous in agreeing that Simon had all the qualities we were seeking, and would be the right person to lead the work of PSNC in the demanding environment community pharmacy faces. The Committee too approved the appointment unanimously, and we look forward to working with Simon.”

Current CEO Sue Sharpe said: “I am delighted that Simon will be our new CEO. He has the experience and expertise, from outside the health sector, and will bring fresh thinking and strong leadership of the organisation, supported by the excellent team here.”