Student Loans Company appoints former NHS Direct head

The former head of the medical helpline NHS Direct has taken over as interim chief executive of the embattled Student Loans Company.

Ed Lester has taken up the position of head of the SLC on a temporary basis. Professor Deian Hopkin, former vice chancellor of London South Bank University, has been appointed interim chair.

The management changes follow the resignation of chief executive Ralph Seymour-Jackson and chair John Goodfellow.

Last month, a PricewaterhouseCoopers audit commissioned by the previous government warned that the SLC would be unable to improve its ‘chaotic’ systems in time for the next academic year.

It prompted universities minister David Willetts to call for the resignation of Seymour-Jackson and Goodfellow.

Last September, the SLC took over responsibility for student loan applications – but was unable to process them in time for the start of the academic year.

Business, Innovation and Skills Secretary Vince Cable said: ‘The Student Loans Company needed fresh leadership and now it has it. We have appointed an interim chair who, together with the new chief executive, will deal with the challenges they face.

‘They need to rebuild confidence in the service by providing the very best service this year.’


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