Mr Scaife died on Tuesday

Mr Scaife, 55, from Worcester, was the chief executive of the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority.

He died after a car transporter crossed the central reservation and collided with his car, just east of junction 18 on Tuesday evening.

Mr Scaife resigned as chief executive of the NHS in Scotland in July 2000.

Later, he became chief executive of the Birmingham Health Authority and in December 2001 was appointed to the same role in the new Birmingham and Black Country Strategic Health Authority.

His... depth of experience and wisdom meant he made an enormous contribution to the whole of the NHS Sir Nigel Crisp Chief executive of the NHS

In January 2003, he became chief executive of the Strategic Health Authority in Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Mr Scaife was married with four children.

Anthea Millett, chair of Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority said: "We are all deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic news about Geoff.

"The Board and all our staff have lost an inspirational leader and close colleague, and I have lost a kind and supportive friend.

"I am fortunate to have worked so closely with Geoff in the past 15 months. He was passionate about making real change and had achieved so much in such a short space of time. The NHS has lost a great champion."

Sir Nigel Crisp, chief executive of the NHS said that Geoff was a "great man and a great leader".

"His personal qualities, his depth of experience and his wisdom meant that he made an enormous contribution to the whole of the NHS. We will miss him."