Viapath chief exeutive Richard Jones will be leaving the pathology provider at the end of 2016 and will be replaced by Dougie Dryburgh.

Jones (pictured) has been chief executive of Viapath, previously known as GSTS Pathology, since 2011.

Drybourgh is currently chief operating officer Viapath. He moved into the healthcare sector after a career in the Royal Air Force and held posts as group operations director at NHS Blood & Transport Service and director, military test and evaluation, at QinetiQ before joining Viapath.

David Bennett, chairman of Viapath, said: “I’d like to thank Richard for his contribution to Viapath. The organisation has a great potential and the board is grateful for his vision, energy and enthusiasm which has seen the organisation build the foundations for an exciting future. Pathology modernisation is now pivotal to the sustainability and transformation of the NHS as a whole. In that context the board and I are convinced Viapath has a secure and prosperous future ahead. I’m therefore delighted to welcome Dougie Dryburgh’s appointment as our new chief executive – he has already proven himself to be an excellent leader as chief operating officer and is the ideal person to lead Viapath forward.”