UWE Bristol professor appointed National Institute for Health and Care Excellence CEO

Jonathan Benger CBE, Professor of Emergency Care at UWE Bristol, has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

His appointment follows previous roles at NICE including chief medical officer, interim director of the Centre for Guidelines and deputy chief executive.

Jonathan takes up his new role at a pivotal moment for the organisation as NICE plays a central part in delivering the government's 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS.

Jonathan said: “I am delighted to be appointed as the new CEO of NICE, which is an organisation founded on applying the best possible research evidence and data to guide clinical practice in the NHS. My research career at UWE Bristol has proved ideal preparation for the challenges of this new role, and I am grateful for the support and hard work of my colleagues in the Emergency Care Research Theme and across the university.”

In his 20-year career at UWE Bristol, Jonathan’s research interests have covered cardiac arrest, airway management, early diagnostic technologies, workforce, design research and pre-hospital care. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications while at the university. From April 2026, he will become an Emeritus Professor at UWE Bristol.

Jonathan will continue to practice as a consultant in emergency medicine at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and works shifts with the Great Western Air Ambulance, a charity he helped to establish.

Fiona Cramp, Director of the Centre for Health & Clinical Research and Professor in Long Term Conditions at UWE Bristol said: "Jonathan’s appointment as the CEO of NICE is greatly deserved and we are sure that he will excel in this position. His leadership of the emergency care research theme within the Centre for Health and Clinical Research at UWE Bristol has been exceptional. He has been an outstanding role model for our clinical academics and mentored several of our early career researchers to become independent researchers and members of the UWE professoriate. We look forwarding to continuing to work with Jonathan in his new role and as an Emeritus Professor at UWE Bristol."