Two appointments to our Executive Team

Sir Julian Hartley, Chief Executive, has made two appointments to our Executive Team (ET) following recent external recruitment.

Esther Provins has been appointed as our new Chief Digital, Data and Registration Officer. Esther joined CQC as Interim Chief Digital and Data Officer in March 2025, which this role replaces. She will provide executive leadership for Technology, Data & Insight, and Registration.

Esther will continue the important work that has already begun to rebuild our organisation. She will lead the development and implementation of a digital and data strategy, oversee the strategic and operational delivery of the Registration function, ensure consistency, quality, and risk-based decision-making, and serve as the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) for CQC.

Esther has worked in health and social care for over 26 years, with 6 years at executive level. She has held positions in IT engineering, telephony, data analytics and programme management and has led the development and implementation of national software systems to support public health programmes. More recently, she has specialised in developing and leading complex change, digital transformation and continuous improvement programmes to support quality improvement.

Chris Usher has been appointed as our new Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services. He will provide executive leadership across all corporate functions, including Legal, People, Finance, Commercial and Workplace, Governance and Assurance, and National Customer Service Centre (NCSC).

Chris will lead on financial strategy, governance and risk management, and legal & regulatory compliance. He will also ensure we have an effective people strategy to support and enable a high-performing, inclusive, and values-driven culture.

Chris has been at CQC since it was established in 2009. He was appointed in his role as Director of Finance, Commercial and Workplace in 2018 having worked for 3 years as Head of Financial Management.

They will both be appointed to CQC’s Board as voting members.

Commenting on the appointments, Sir Julian Hartley, Chief Executive of CQC, said: "I am delighted that Esther and Chris will be continuing as members of our ET in these new roles, following a competitive external recruitment process. I am also pleased to bring their expertise to our Board more formally.

"There’s a lot of important work ahead for CQC, and Esther and Chris will be pivotal in helping us to continue our journey to becoming the strong, effective regulator people need and deserve."