Former NHSX CEO reportedly set to join the Zoological Society of London

The former CEO of the digital arm of the NHS is reportedly set to join the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

Matthew Gould, who headed up the now disbanded NHSX, is due to be announced as the director general of the charity, The Sunday Times has reported. ZSL is a conservation charity which runs London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo.

According to reports, Gould still needs to receive approval from the government’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

In April 2022, Gould officially left as national director for digital transformation at NHS England and Improvement, and director general for digital transformation in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), at the end of April. The role, which he took on after the NHSX brand was disbanded in January, meant Gould had oversight of the “joint digital policy and strategy team”.

Before the brand was retired, Gould was the CEO of NHSX – a transformation unit set up by former secretary of state Matt Hancock in 2019 to accelerate digital innovation in the NHS.

A spokesperson for ZLS said: “ZSL has made an offer to a candidate to join as our new director general.

“As is usual with appointments we need to undertake a number of approval stages before we can formally make an announcement.”