DH names new chief executive of the MHRA

Dr Ian Hudson has been appointed as the new chief executive of the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Hudson has been with the regulator since 2001 and is currently its licensing director. He will assume the new position in September, when Sir Kent Woods steps down after ten years with the agency.

“Dr Hudson is used to working to the highest possible standards and maintaining the very toughest scrutiny over a fast-moving industry and I am confident he will find this role a deeply rewarding challenge,” commented health minister Lord Howe.

Hudson is also the UK delegate and vice chairman of the Committee on Human Medicinal Products (CHMP) at the European Medicines Agency.

Commenting on his new appointment he said: “The MHRA plays a critical role in ensuring that medicines and medical devices help people and are acceptably safe; we support research and development; and protect and promote the health of millions of people through our activities.

“Sir Kent has led the MHRA very effectively and has developed it into one of the leading medicines and medical devices regulators in the world,” he added.

The decision follows the arrival of Gordon Duff to the agency, who joined in January this year as a non-executive director.

Duff said: “Dr Hudson has excellent, broad experience across all aspects of medicines regulation and is ideally placed to lead the MHRA, which is unique in bringing together medicines and medical devices regulation together with world-class research facilities and expertise.”