RCN appoints new Chief Executive and General Secretary

The Royal College of Nursing has appointed Janet Davies, its Director of Nursing and Service Delivery, as its next Chief Executive & General Secretary. She will take over from Dr Peter Carter in July.

Janet has been an RCN Director for the last 9 years, and has 20 years’ experience as a hands-on nursing leader. Before joining the RCN she was Chief Executive of the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service.

Michael Brown, Chair of RCN Council, said: “It was a unanimous decision to appoint Janet. She will be a strong General Secretary and I believe that with her as our Chief Executive we can continue to be very powerful as a Royal College and Trade Union.

“There is no mistaking her ambitions for the organisation, her passion for nursing and healthcare and her commitment to the RCN and its future. I very much look forward to working with Janet in her new role over the next few years.”

Janet Davies said: “I am delighted and honoured to be given the opportunity to lead the world’s largest professional union of nursing staff. I have been an RCN member for over 20 years, and have been proud to work for an organisation that does so much to promote nursing and high quality patient care.

“These are challenging times for nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, and I will work to ensure that their talent and dedication is properly recognised and that their voice continues to be heard loudly and clearly in the debate about the future shape of healthcare in the UK.”

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said: “I am delighted that Janet will be taking over from me. As the RCN’s Director of Nursing and Service Delivery, she has been an inspiring and energetic colleague, who has put nursing at the forefront of everything she does.

“I know she will do a great job of building on the many strengths of the RCN.”