Movers and Shakers news roundup

This Movers and Shakers roundup includes the immediate departure of Sir Julian Hartley as chief executive of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and the president of the Royal College of General Practitioners being appointed to the House of Lords.

Professor Clive Kay, chief executive of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has confirmed his plan to retire in summer 2026, after a near 40-year career in the NHS, the last six of which have been at King’s.

Sir Julian Hartley announced on 23 October 2025 that he is stepping down with immediate effect as chief executive of the CQC, with Arun Chopra, chief inspector of mental health, stepping into the role on an interim basis.

Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “We thank Sir Julian for this work with CQC. We understand and respect his decision to step down.

“We look forward to a close dialogue with Arun Chopra in his new interim role, as we work with CQC to support high quality care for patients with fair, proportionate and constructive regulation.”

Dame Clare Gerada, president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, shared in a LinkedIn post that she has been appointed to the House of Lords.

She said, “this recognition feels both humbling and profoundly moving” and hopes “to use this opportunity to continue speaking up for what matters in healthcare, equity, dignity, and the wellbeing of patients and professionals alike”.

Professor Richard Scothon has departed as chair of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust amid an investigation due to failings in its breast cancer service.

Scothon joined in March 2023, and no reason has been given for his exit. Alison Marshall, most recently chair of Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, has been made interim chair.

Longstanding chief executive of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, David Bradley, has announced his retirement after more than four decades in the NHS.

Bradley has led the biggest mental health trust in the county since 2019 having joined from neighbouring South West London and St George’s NHS Trust.

Dame Emily Lawson, one of the senior directors who left NHS England in spring, has taken up the role of chief operating officer (COO) at Newton Consulting.

She was COO at NHSE from November 2023 to March 2025. Prior to this, she set up and ran the delivery unit in 10 Downing Street from August 2021 to October 2023, serving under prime ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

The second permanent secretary of the Department of Health and Social Care, Tom Riordan, is leaving after only a year in the post for a newly created cross-government role.

She will take on a new position as the government’s “envoy for the Northern Growth Corridor”, jointly appointed by the Chancellor, communities secretary, and transport secretary.

Imperial College Health chief executive Tim Orchard has been appointed as group chief executive of the North West London Acute Provider Group, which also includes Chelsea and Westminster, London North West, and the Hillingdon Hospital trusts.

Steve McManus, who has been chief executive of Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust since 2017, will leave his post in July 2026 to focus on executive coaching and leadership work. The trust has not yet appointed a successor.

Sir David Henshaw is joining Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board as interim chair for a period of up to 18 months.

He will be leaving his role as joint chair for Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust when he takes up his new post.

Agilio Software, a provider of healthcare operations software, has announced three senior appointments as it enters its next phase of expansion across the dental, primary care, pharmacy and veterinary sectors.

The new appointments are Tom Cornwell as chief financial officer, Bruce Fair as chief revenue officer, and Mike Osborn as chief customer officer.

Rasha ElKhalili has joined Macmillan Cancer Support as chief technology and data officer. She will lead the next phase of Macmillan’s digital transformation, harnessing data and technology to better support the growing number of people living with cancer in the UK.