Former Business Link West Midlands chief executive Alison White has started a new job as head of the General Dental Council.
Ms White unexpectedly left her role as chief executive of Business Link West Midlands in September this year.
It still remains unclear why Ms White stood down from her post at Business Link as what the organisation initially described as a “temporary leave of absence” turned into her stepping down from the role.
She eventually left after just over a year in the job, to be replaced by the current boss, Lorraine Holmes.
Business Link has never commented on the matter and, as a technical private body, it is immune to public scrutiny, despite being majority-funded from the public purse.
Ms White’s new role will be as interim chief executive and registrar at the GDC.
A release put out by the dentistry regulatory body praises her “strong track record of strategic development, leadership and business results, in both the public and private sectors”.
It also mentions previous roles at the National Pharmacy Association, Nestor Healthcare Group and the Royal Mail, it although does not mention her role at Business Link – either in the West Midlands or her previous job as head of Business Link London.
She will officially replace incumbent Duncan Rudkin at the GDC when he leaves to become chief executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Hew Mathewson, the chairman of the GDC, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the considerable achievements of Duncan Rudkin during his time at the General Dental Council. As chief executive he has reshaped the staff structure and our high standing as a regulator is very largely a consequence of his efforts.
“We are very pleased to welcome Alison White, a highly experienced senior executive, who will be working with the new chair to take the council forward whilst a permanent chief executive and registrar is recruited.”
