Making the announcement, health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Sir Malcolm’s capability and expertise have been invaluable over the past four years as the vision of strategic commissioning has become a reality.
“I look forward to continuing to work with him as we equip the NHS to face the challenges of the future – by building the safest, most patient-centred and most efficient healthcare system in the world.”
Grant’s job as NHS England chair will take up about two days a week and be remunerated at a rate of £63,000 per annum.
Grant is a barrister and academic specialising in property, planning and environmental law. He was professor of land economy at the University of Cambridge from 1991 to 2003 and subsequently president and provost of University College London until 2013.
It was also confirmed that NHS England deputy chair Ed Smith was stepping down from the board following his appointment as joint chair of Monitor and chair-designate of the NHS Trust Development Authority, which was announced in July. The new jointly led body is to be called NHS Improvement.
Before retiring, Smith was a senior partner with accountants PwC.
