CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch announced today that he will nominate Deputy Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas to serve as the department’s next commissioner at tomorrow’s Governor and Council meeting. The Executive Council must approve the nomination.

Toumpas has served as acting commissioner since September.

“With his strong management skills and compassion for people, I believe Nick Toumpas is the right leader for the Department of Health and Human Services,” Gov. Lynch said.

“Nick Toumpas shares my goals of increasing access to affordable health insurance for children, reducing health care costs through innovation and strengthening our partnerships with community-based agencies,” Gov. Lynch said. “Nick Toumpas has shown he is the kind of leader who can bring people together to ensure the Department of Health and Human Services fulfills its mission of providing quality services to our most vulnerable citizens and protecting the public’s health.”

Toumpas, of Rye, has served as deputy commissioner since 2002. Prior to his appointment as deputy commissioner, he worked for several private companies, including Digital Equipment Corp. and Lucent technologies and has an extensive business and technological background. He also served in various roles at HHS from 1976 to 1980.

He holds a bachelor’s and masters of business administration degrees from the University of New Hampshire.