Nuffield Health has announced that Steve Gray will replace David Mobbs as chief executive.

It was announced earlier this week that Mobbs (pictured) will leave Nuffield Health at the end of the year, after 14 years at the healthcare provider. Gray will take up his post on 1 January 2016.

Gray’s previous roles include healthcare services director at LloydsPharmacy, chief operating officer of its parent company Celesio, and group international healthcare director for AS Watson, the parent company of Superdrug.

Russell Hardy, chairman of Nuffield Health, said: "I am delighted that Steve Gray has decided to join us. We undertook a worldwide search for our new CEO. Steve was the outstanding candidate. His strategic insights into the UK healthcare market combined with his vision for Nuffield Health over the next stage of its development were compelling. He has a proven track record of innovation and commercial success across a range of healthcare markets. Nuffield Health is in safe hands.”

Commenting on his future plans, Mobbs told HealthInvestor: “I’m still very enthusiastic about healthcare, I see myself playing a role somewhere in healthcare and I’m considering a number of options.”

The rest of the senior executives team will remain the same.