Professor Tim Newton, President of the Oral Health Foundation, has issued a statement concerning the retirement of the charity’s Chief Executive, Dr Nigel Carter OBE. The statement reads as follows:
I am writing on behalf of the Board of Trustees to share that Dr Nigel Carter OBE will retire from his role as Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation in March 2026. Nigel is currently on sick leave, and following thoughtful and supportive discussions with the Board, he has taken the decision to step away from a role he has cherished for many years. We respect and support his decision and send him our very best wishes.
Nigel has dedicated more than four decades of service to the Oral Health Foundation – as a Trustee, as Chair of the Trustee Board, and for the past 29 years as Chief Executive. Throughout that time he has provided committed, thoughtful and visionary leadership. His work to improve the nation’s oral health and to support the people behind this mission has had a lasting impact on the organisation and the communities we serve. His contribution was recognised with the award of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 Queen’s Jubilee Honours.
The Oral Health Foundation is in a strong position, with clear strategic priorities, committed partners and an exceptional team. The Trustees have full confidence in the Senior Management Team, who will provide leadership on an interim basis and ensure continuity across all areas of our work. We are working closely with them to ensure that the charity continues to operate seamlessly, maintaining our focus on delivering impact and supporting our partners and stakeholders.
We know that many colleagues, partners and friends of the charity have worked with Nigel over the years and may wish to share their reflections. If you have a memory, message or story about Nigel that you would like to contribute, we would be very pleased to receive it. Please send your thoughts to pr@dentalhealth.org.
The Board is committed to appointing a new Chief Executive in due course and to ensuring a smooth and considered transition in leadership. Our priority is to build on Nigel’s legacy and to support the organisation’s continued growth and impact in the years ahead. We will provide further updates as the process progresses.
During this period, our thoughts are with the Oral Health Foundation community and with Nigel as he begins this next chapter. He will be greatly missed, and we remain deeply grateful for his dedication and service.
Tim Newton
Chair of Trustees
Commenting on his retirement, Dr Carter adds: “I look back with real pride on all that the Oral Health Foundation and its people have achieved, and it has been a genuine privilege to be part of that journey. While stepping back means I won’t be directly involved in our current projects, I have complete confidence in the team to continue building our work and impact. I will always value the memories and achievements we’ve shared, and I look forward to seeing the charity continue to flourish under its next phase of leadership.”
On behalf of everybody here at Smile, we wish Dr Carter all the best for retirement and thank him for his decades of service.
