Anna Bradley is to step down from her role at the General Optical Council after being appointed as chair of health and social care group Healthwatch England.
Bradley, current chair of the GOC, has also been appointed as a member of the board of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). GOC chief executive and registrar Samantha Peters said: 'Anna has been with us for three years. The Council and I are grateful to have had the support of such a skilled, committed and enthusiastic chair.
'We are working on the election of a new chair, and have started discussions with the CHRE about how we might manage this.'
The GOC said Bradley would wind down her involvement with the Council over the course of the next few months.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley added: 'Anna brings with her a wealth of regulatory and consumer advocacy experience. In particular, her proven track record of promoting and defending the interests of consumers, and giving voice and regulatory strength to improve services will be crucial to the work she will lead to establish Healthwatch England and ensure its success as the independent voice of patients, service users, carers and the public.'
Her new appointments will be for three years and she will receive £47,883 for two to three days per week, the Department of Health confirmed.
Bradley said: 'I am very excited about this opportunity to represent and amplify the voices of people who use the health and care system. I am clear that those who run, commission, and regulate services need to learn from the people who use those services.'