CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today swore in Nicholas Toumpas of Rye to serve as the state’s next Commissioner of Health and Human Services.

The Executive Council unanimously confirmed Gov. Lynch’s nomination of Toumpas last week. Toumpas, the former deputy commissioner, has served as acting commissioner since September.

“As Commissioner, Nick Toumpas will work to improve services to people, strengthen our partnerships with community-based agencies and work to control health care costs through innovation,” Gov. Lynch said. “Nick Toumpas is a leader who will work to bring people together to find solutions, a quality I believe is essential if we are to continue to make progress. I am confident Nick will 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.