NHS Digital’s has appointed Robert Coles as Chief Information Security Officer and he will start with the organisation on 1 October 2018.
Robert has over 30 years’ experience working in information security and spent the last four years as GlaxoSmithKline’s Chief Information Security Officer. He has previously held posts as Chief Information Security Office at National Grid and investment bank Merrill Lynch.
Robert will work closely with local Chief Information Officers and Chief Executives to help ensure health and care organisations meet the government’s new minimum cyber security standards and Cyber Essentials Plus (CE+) certification.
Rob Shaw, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Digital, said: “We have listened to the recommendations made in the lessons learned review into last year’s WannaCry attack and acted on the commitment we made to the Public Accounts Committee to appoint someone to lead the national cyber and security agenda for health and care.
“Robert will build on the excellent work that the NHS Digital Data Security Centre has already done to reach out across the health and care to support improved cyber security across the system.
“Bringing Robert on board allows NHS Digital to continue to strengthen our relationship with the wider health and care sector, by ensuring we have the best expertise to protect them from cyber security threats. He brings a huge depth of experience and expertise to this role having worked across different sectors over the past three decades.
“We are determined to ensure that cyber security becomes a priority right across the health and care from frontline staff all the way up to board level and believe Robert has the skills and knowledge to help us achieve this.”
