Sir Simon Stevens to step down as NHS England chief executive Sir Simon leaves after seven years, having overseen the Covid vaccination rollout, and will become a peer 29 April 2021 • 6:35pm Sir Simon Stevens had agreed to stay on 'to see us through the pandemic pressures' Credit: Paul Grover for The Telegraph Sir Simon Stevens is to step down as the head of the NHS and become a peer, the Government has announced. After seven years in the job, Sir Simon will leave his role at the end of July having overseen the Covid vaccination rollout to all adults. In a leaving note to staff, he paid tribute to their work on the "amazingly successful" campaign.