DHI Announces Planned Leadership Transition
The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) has announced a planned leadership transition that will take effect from 1 January 2027.
After 49 years working in the NHS and digital health and care innovation, including the last nine years as Chief Executive Officer of DHI, Professor George Crooks OBE has confirmed his intention to retire from his full-time role as CEO at the end of December 2026.
Since becoming CEO, Professor Crooks has helped establish DHI as a leading force in advancing digital health and social care innovation across Scotland and beyond, working with partners across academia, industry, the public sector and the third sector to improve outcomes for citizens through innovation.
While stepping down from the CEO position, Professor Crooks will continue his involvement with DHI in a clinical advisory role from 1 January 2027, working two days per week to support a number of strategic priority areas and initiatives.
As part of the planned transition, Moira Mackenzie, Deputy CEO and Director of Innovation, will assume the role of Interim CEO from 1 January 2027.
Commenting on Professor Crooks' transition from CEO to Senior Clinical Advisor, Petra Wilson, Chair of the Board, said:
“On behalf of the DHI Board, I want to mark our sincere gratitude for the service Professor George Crooks OBE has given to DHI, and indeed to the wider digital health family in Scotland. George's deep and genuine passion for digital health has built an exceptionally talented team at DHI and shaped an organisation on strong and lasting foundations. I know I speak for the whole Board when I say he will be greatly missed as CEO - which is why we are so pleased to welcome him into the role of clinical advisor. We know his legacy is in safe hands with Moira Mackenzie as Interim CEO, and we look forward to supporting Moira and the Executive Team in carrying the DHI mission forward with the same energy and purpose that George brought to the role”.
"Leading DHI has been a great privilege. Over the past nine years we have built an organisation that has made a significant contribution to advancing digital health and social care innovation across Scotland and beyond.
I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and grateful for the support, dedication and expertise of colleagues, partners and stakeholders who have been part of that journey.
While I am retiring from my full-time role as CEO, I am pleased to continue supporting DHI in an advisory capacity and remain extremely positive about the organisation's future and the impact it will continue to make."
Speaking about the transition, Professor Crooks added:
"Moira has been a key part of DHI's Leadership Team and has played an instrumental role in our success to date. I have every confidence that she will provide strong leadership and continuity during this next phase of DHI's development."
The transition has been carefully planned and will have no impact on DHI's strategic direction, priorities or delivery. DHI's Executive Team and Senior Management Team remain unchanged, with the organisation continuing to deliver against its ambitious plans and commitments.
DHI's 10-year strategy remains firmly in place, and the organisation enters Year 3 of its current funding cycle with a positive outlook and strong foundations for future growth and impact.
Over the coming months, DHI's Executive, Board and host university partners will review the CEO role and begin the process of recruiting a permanent full-time CEO.
