The NHS Confederation has appointed Michael O’Higgins as its new chair.

Mr O’Higgins replaces Sir Keith Pearson who departed in June 2012 to take up a similar position with Health Education England.

The new chair said he has “long admired the work of the NHS Confederation” and is “excited about making the most of this position to speak on behalf of the NHS.”

He joins the Confederation with immediate effect after leaving as chair of The Pensions Regulatory. Mr O’Higgins has previously held similar high-profile roles at the Audit Commission and the Treasury Group Audit Committee.

Mike Farrar, NHS Confed Chief Executive, said the new recruit is a highly respected figure following his work within the NHS and local government. “His extensive knowledge of the health and social care sector means that he will be invaluable in developing our relationships right across the wider care sector.”

The National Director for Quality at the Department of Health, Ian Cumming, has been appointed the first Chief Executive of Health Education England (HEE).

Mr Cumming will commence his role at the healthcare training and education provider at the end of June.

Sir Keith Pearson, Chair of HEE, said the new chief executive will “bring a compelling sense of vision and purpose” to the organisation.

Discussing his appointment, the former chief exec of NHS West Midlands and North Lancashire Teaching PCT said HEE offers a “great opportunity” to shape the future healthcare workforce.

“HEE will lead the new system to support healthcare providers and professionals as they identify the critical workforce challenges and ensure services have the right people with the right skills and behaviours, where and when they are needed,” he said.

The ABPI and the NHS Confederation are to partner with Communiqué to share best practice in healthcare communications.

The new Communiqué Awards workshops will share experience and expertise for the benefit of industry and the NHS.

The agreement reflects recent steps by both organisations to develop closer industry-NHS partnership in order to promote the uptake of innovative therapies.

At its recent conference, the ABPI launched a new team to promote regional collaboration with the NHS through the sharing of best practice.

The NHS Confederation has since appointed Sir Keith Pearson as Chair of Health Education England, which will lead healthcare education and training from June 2012.

The new initiative takes its lead from the DH report Innovation Health and Wealth: Accelerating Adoption and Diffusion in the NHS, which said: “We need to get the brightest and best innovators to share their knowledge, learning and expertise with the NHS.”

Sir Keith Pearson, NHS Confederation Chairman, will stand down from his role after being appointed as the first Chair of the newly established Health Education England.

The body will provide national leadership to the new system of education and training in healthcare when it is established towards the end of June 2012.

Mike Farrar, NHS Confed Chief Executive, said Sir Keith has been a “great asset” to the Confederation “which has gone from strength to strength under his leadership”.

The outgoing chair will start his new role on 28 June 2012 at the new education and training organisation.

He commented that he was “delighted” with his new role and was proud of his achievements whilst serving the NHS Confederation. “We have forged closer links with our members, improved the way we develop and deliver our services to provide increased value for money, and secured and strengthened our financial future,” he said. “I know the NHS Confederation will build on these firm foundations to deliver exceptional support for members in the coming year.”

“It is great to see him taking his expertise to Health Education England to ensure the future health workforce is equipped to deliver high quality care for patients and service users,” said Mike Farrar.