Whitehall social care chief David Behan is to become the next chief executive of the troubled Care Quality Commission, its chair Dame Jo Williams announced today.

Mr Behan is currently director general for social care, local government and care partnerships at the Department of Health. Previously he was chief inspector of the Commission for Social Care Inspection. He is a former president of the Association of Directors of Social Services and a former director of social services for Greenwich LBC and Middlesbrough Council.