Paul Cosford joined PHE on 12 October 2012.

Prior to this, Paul led the national and local delivery of health protection services within the Health Protection Agency (HPA) from September 2010, and was acting Chief Executive of the HPA from October 2012 to February 2013.

Until 2010, he was the Regional Director of Public Health for the East of England leading:

strategies for health inequalities and health improvement (including tobacco and obesity control)

the health system’s response to pandemic flu

the reduction of healthcare associated infections.

Paul has an Honorary Professorship in Public Health at Chester University.