Appointment to the Voluntary Health Insurance Board - 3 January 2023

Following a Public Appointments Service campaign and with approval by the Central Bank of Ireland, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has appointed Mr. Paul Zollinger-Read to the Voluntary Health Insurance Board with effect from 4 November 2022 until 3 November 2027.

Paul commenced working as a GP in Braintree in 1991 and quickly developed an interest in quality improvement. This led to a parallel career in NHS management. His first achievement was to set up and then run one of the first Care Trusts in the country, merging health and social care into one organisation. He then went on to run various Primary Care Trusts (NHS Commissioning organisations) over the next ten years culminating in being CEO of NHS Cambridgeshire in January 2010 and incorporating NHS Peterborough in July 2010. In July 2010, Paul was also asked to lead the development of GP clinical commissioning groups in the East of England. In Feb 2011, he joined the King's Fund as Medical Advisor. Paul joined Bupa as CMO in July 2012. Bupa is a funder of health care and has a significant global provision business, including hospitals, clinics, primary care, dental, and aged care. He was accountable for the safety and quality of care on a global basis and a member of the executive team, and was closely involved in strategy and performance. He left Bupa in Dec 2019 to start a portfolio career. He is now involved in supporting the growth of a diagnostic imaging company, a group developing luxury aged care services, an ambulatory clinic business in Saudi Arabia, VHI provision in Ireland, and Doctor Care Anywhere. During the pandemic, he retrained as a GP and still works as a GP.