Mike Farrar is the Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation. He joined the organisation in May 2011.

Mike was chief executive of the North West England SHA from May 2006 to April 2011. He was previously chief executive of West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Strategic Health Authorities, chief executive of Tees Valley Health Authority and head of primary care at the Department of Health. During his time at the Department of Health, he was responsible for establishing primary care groups, primary care trusts and Personal Medical Services (PMS).

He chaired the Strategic Health Authority Chief Executive's Group from 2002 to 2009. He chaired the NHS Confederation GP Contract negotiating team that successfully negotiated the new General Medical Service contract. He also worked as the national programme director of NHS Live. He previously chaired the Office for Life Sciences Innovation Delivery Board.

Mike is also a board member of Sport England, where he has also acted as interim chair, and in August 2009 was appointed as National Tsar for Sport and Health. Mike was also awarded the CBE in 2005 for services to the NHS and is an honorary fellow of the University of Central Lancashire.