The latest edition of Movers and Shakers features a host of trust chief executives departing and the appointment of a new CEO at The King’s Fund.


Sarah Dugan has announced that she will step down after 12 years as chief executive at Hertfordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust and will retire in April 2024 after 41 years in the NHS.


Another trust chief executive announced her retirement this month as Carolyn Regan, who has led West London Trust since December 2015, will step down at the end of this year. The trust confirmed it has begun its search for a successor.


The theme of trust CEOs leaving continues as Stephen Collman, currently chief executive at Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust, has been appointed managing director at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust and will join later this year.


Yet another trust chief executive announced their departure over the last few weeks. Dame Jackie Daniel will be stepping down from her position at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust at Christmas.


Jacqueline Davis has been appointed as the first ever chief nursing informatics officer (CNIO) at System C Healthcare with immediate effect, cementing the company’s commitment to digital clinical excellence, and providing an important voice for clinicians both internally and externally.

Davis, a longstanding System C employee, has almost 30 years’ experience as an NHS nurse, starting out as a theatre nurse at NHS Lothian and working her way up to head of nursing practice development at Kettering General Hospital Foundation Trust.


The King’s Fund think tank has appointed Sarah Woolnough as its new chief executive; she will take over from Richard Murray early next year. She will take up the CEO role in January 2024 and described it as a “critical time” to lead the King’s Fund.

Woolnough is currently chief executive of charity Asthma and Lung UK and has held senior positions in the health and care sector, other charities – including 15 years at Cancer Research UK – and the civil service.


Aviva’s general insurance chief information officer has joined Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation’s Trust’s board as a non-executive director.

James Barnard brings more than 20 years’ experience in technology and transformation to the organisation, which further broadens and strengthens leadership at the trust.


Peter White, who already chairs North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS), has now been appointed to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals as a new chair. He will continue at NWAS until the end of his term in 2025.


NHS Supply Chain announced on 28 July 2023 that Andy McMinn, executive commercial director, is moving back to the Government Commercial Organisation, just four months after joining.


The NHS’ first chief sustainability officer Nick Watts has stepped back from the role after nearly three years.

Watts, who was appointed to the role in 2020 to lead the health service’s net zero drive, has taken up a post as professor at the National University of Singapore. He will also be doing some work for the University of Notre Dame in the US.

He has been replaced by deputy director of Greener NHS Chris Gormley.


Radar Healthcare as appointed Rhian Bulmer into the newly created role of chief partnerships officer. Bulmer join’s the company’s leadership team with over 27 years of experience in health and social care, having held key positions at EMIS, Ramsay Healthcare and other health tech providers.

More appointments and departures can be found on Digital Health Intelligence.