A scientist who has led the Covid-19 vaccine rollout for the NHS has been asked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to head a new unit at Number 10 to implement government policy. 

Dr Emily Lawson, the national director for transformation and corportate operations at NHS England since late 2017, will take on the role on secondment from the NHS in the summer. 

A spokesman for the Prime Minister, quoted in the Guardian, said, “It is about making sure that the Prime Minister’s priorities are being delivered.” 

Dr Lawson, a molecular geneticist by training, became responsible for the vaccine programme late last year after being involved in the procurement of protective equipment for the NHS earlier in the pandemic. 

She has extensive experience in the private sector, having previously been chief people officer of the home improvement company Kingfisher and group human resources director at the supermarket chain Morisons. She spent 15 years with management consultants McKinsey. 

She is deputy chair of the 30% Club, which aims to improve representation of women on the boards of UK companies.