Nicola McQueen was appointed as CEO of NHS Professionals, the largest temporary staff supplier to the National Health Service, in September 2019; she had joined NHS Professionals as interim COO in January 2019. She is passionate about workforce business issues, having spent the past 20 years supporting and creating effective staffing strategies across both the private and public sectors. McQueen is also CEO of Doctors Direct, the locum service from NHS Professionals. Most recently, she led NHS Professionals through the coronavirus pandemic, successfully attracting tens of thousands of healthcare professionals into the NHS.