Movers and Shakers news roundup

This Movers and Shakers roundup includes the planned departures of both the chief executive and deputy chief executive at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and the appointment of a new AI advisor for the prime minister.

Dr Sam Roberts, chief executive of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), has revealed she will be stepping down at the end of the year after four years in the role.

NICE said that recruitment for a new chief executive will commence immediately.

Professor Phil Wood, chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), has announced he will retire from his role at the end of 2025 after more than 30 years of service with the NHS.

He has been chief executive at LTHT since February 2023 and chief medical officer since 2020, helping to lead the trust through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.

Clare Smith, deputy chief executive and chief operating officer at LTHT, is also leaving to join York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The date of her departure has not been revealed.

Nuffield Health announced the appointment in July 2025 of Karen Prins as chief operating officer for its hospitals.

She will join the organisation in October 2025 from Circle Health Group, where she fulfilled the role of chief operating officer and, more recently, as acting chief executive.

Jade Leung, chief technology officer at the AI Security Institute, has been appointed as the prime minister’s new AI adviser.

As part of the role, she will work to position the UK as the leading nation to help unlock the benefits and prepare for the impacts of transformative AI, working closely with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to harness the technology.

Denis Lafitte will join the NHS South East London Integrated Care Board ICB as its chief digital and information officer from 1 October 2025.

Lafitte is currently in the same role for both Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and will continue alongside his ICB role.

The next chief executive of the NHS in Wales will be Jacqueline Totterdell, currently the group chief executive officer at St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group.

She will succeed current chief executive Judith Paget, who is taking up a new role as director general for strategy within the Welsh government to strengthen strategic planning and delivery as the organisation enters a period of significant change.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Jon Melbourne as chief executive and confirmed that he will start over the coming months after the completion of pre-employment checks.

Melbourne is currently chief operating officer at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, where he has worked since January 2022.

John Lawlor will leave his role as chair of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in November 2025, having already taken up the same role at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

Lawlor joined Tavistock in 2022 amid a clear-out of its top team. In April 2025, Tavistock announced it would be acquired by fellow mental health provider North London NHS Foundation Trust.

Vice chair Aruna Mehta will take over on an interim basis from December 2025 until the merger is completed, which is anticipated to be by 1 April 2026.