Nigel Bell has been confirmed as chief executive of the NHS Information Authority, formed on 1 April. He was information systems and technology director for drug development with Astra AB, the pharmaceuticals firm that recently announced a merger with Zeneca. Four non-executive members have also been appointed - Rosemary Horwood, a non-executive director of Northampton General Hospital trust, Dr Jem Rashbass, senior pathologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital trust and clinical director of biomedical computing at Cambridge University, Susanne Walley, until recently a senior first officer with British Airways, and Lawrence Ijebor, managing director of Procom Europe.