Movers and Shakers news roundup

Our latest Movers and Shakers roundup features the appointment of an interim director general for technology, digital and data at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Julian Hunt has been hired as the new interim director general for technology, digital and data at the DHSC.

Hunt, who was previously health services lead at PwC following earlier stints at IBM and Deloitte, will take up the position in the DHSC’s new executive team with NHS England, becoming the national tech lead for the NHS.

Jane Dwelly, vice president international at the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, has been appointed chair pf the Federation for Informatics Professionals.

“I am honoured to take on this role at a time when digital leadership is critical to the future of the NHS and wider health systems,” she said.

Professor Ben Bridgewater has been appointed executive chair of the Health Innovation Network, representing England’s 15 regional health innovation networks nationally. He will continue in his role as chief executive of Health Innovation Manchester.

He replaces Richard Stubbs, chief executive of Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber, who has stepped down from the Health Innovation Network following the end of his two-year term.

Tom Cahill is stepping down from his role as national lead for learning disability and autism at NHS England to become chair of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in January 2026.

Cleveland Henry announced on LinkedIn that he is taking on the position of interim chief operations officer at Optum UK, co-headline sponsors of Digital Health Rewired 2026.

Former GP Sir John Oldham is stepping down from his role as Wes Streeting’s neighbourhood health and primary care lead after less than a year.

He informed government in the summer that was leaving the role, after launching the national neighbourhood health implementation programme. He is also stepping down as chair of the taskforce which is overseeing that work.

Former NHS England chair Richard Meddings has been appointed as chair at Birmingham Health Partners, an alliance of six of the city’s NHS trusts, two of its universities and the local health innovation network.

Meddings joined NHSE in 2021 and stepped down in March 2025.

Matthew Hopkins has announced plans to retire later this year to focus on his family after his wife’s cancer diagnosis.

The chief executive of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is leaving in November 2025 after a 40-year career in the NHS.

Mark Fisher has also announced his retirement after more than 40 years of public service. He has been chief executive of Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board since it was established in July 2022 and will step down at the end of March 2026.

Professor Chris McDermott has been appointed as the new director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, hosted by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Sheffield.

Healthcode, the digital technology specialists for private healthcare have nominated their first Clinical Safety Officer (CSO) to oversee clinical risk management of their products, including their brand-new Prescribing solution.

Dr Patrick Lester, an experienced CSO, will be responsible for clinical risk management planning, reviewing safety documentation and evidence and recommending whether systems are safe and robust.