John Faraguna is the new managing director of Hays’ global health and social care division.

The former chief executive of NHS Professionals, the health service’s temporary staffing and recruitment organisation, has joined Hays’ newly launched global health and social care business.

A Hays statement said that John Faraguna’s immediate focus will be to put in place the people, processes and technology necessary to deliver rapid and significant growth in this sector, initially focusing on the UK market and then quickly expanding the business’s capabilities internationally.

“The launch of this global business is aimed at addressing the chronic shortage of clinically skilled candidates across the world, and the business will look to attract and place candidates internationally where these skills shortages exist,” the statement said.

Faraguna will report to Hays’ chief executive Alistair Cox but will also work closely with the MDs of Hays’ regions.

Cox says: “Hays has been developing a high quality, and very successful, health and social care business primarily in the UK and Australia for a number of years. What we are announcing is the creation of a truly global business to address the opportunities we see across the sector worldwide.”