The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has appointed David Behan as its new Chief Executive following the resignation of Cynthia Bower in February.

The experienced Behan joins from the Department of Health where he currently serves as Director General for Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships.

Dame Jo Williams, CQC Chair, said Mr Behan’s “frontline and regulatory experience”, coupled with his “commitment to making a difference for people”, made him stand out from other candidates.

Mr Behan will be tasked with improving the image of the NHS watchdog after it came under fire for its role in failing in oversight at the Mid Staffordshire hospital and from separate reports on its performance by the DH and the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee.

The new Chief Executive will join the Commission in July. Prior to working at the DH, he served as Chief Inspector of the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

“I am greatly looking forward to my next challenge of working with the CQC Board, staff and stakeholders,” said David Behan. “I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to lead the organisation that takes action where services are poor and unsafe, whilst providing assurance that our health and care services are fit to achieve quality and outcomes for people which are amongst the best in the world.”

Cynthia Bower has resigned from her position as Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission.

Her resignation coincides with the publication of the Department of Health’s performance and capability review which claims the regulator had underestimated certain challenges.

Ms Bower, who will remain in the post until the autumn, said she was proud of her achievements in the role but it was “time to move on”.

The findings from the ‘performance and capability’ review of the Commission found it had made “considerable achievements” since it was established in 2009.

However, certain challenges had not been judged adequately and the role of the CQC has “not been as clear as it needs to be to health and care providers, patients and the public”.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley praised the leadership of Ms Bower during her time in the role. “I would like to thank Cynthia for her work and leadership and wish her the best of luck for the future,” he said. “Over the last year, we have seen CQC make improvements and respond to the need for enhanced scrutiny and enforcement of standards.”