Sir Leonard Harry “Len” Peach was born in 1932, in Walsall and died on August 5, 2016.

He was Chief Executive of the National Health Service from 1986-89.

Following the Second World War he was enlisted for National Service, achieving the rank of Second Lieutenant in the infantry.

Then, he studied history at Pembroke College, Oxford.

Subsequently, he was sponsored by his employer, John Thompsons of Wolverhampton, to study management at the London School of Economics and then joined the West Midlands Gas Board.

During 1961, Sir Lenard moved to IBM where he rose to be Head of Personnel and Corporate Affairs for the UK.

The NHS Management Board was founded by Norman Fowler as a result of the Griffiths Report on NHS.

During 1985, Peach was seconded to the Department of Health as to serve as Director of Personnel on the Board and was appointed Chief Executive in November 1986.

Peach returned to IBM in 1989 and when he retired in 1992 he became Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority and later Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Sir Leonard Peach passed away in 2016.