Originally a biochemical engineer, Sir Ciarán spent his formative career with ICI before becoming a management consultant. Ciarán has been chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support and of the British Council. Ciarán has been a non-executive director of NHS England. Currently he is chair of the Health Service Executive, Ireland’s public health and social care system and a trustee of the British Irish Association and of Friends of Europe. He is also Director of the Centre for Peace and Security which applies social science research to understanding peace and security issues in challenged societies. Sir Ciarán received his knighthood for services to cancer patients.