Movers and Shakers news roundup
This Movers and Shakes roundup includes the appointment of a permanent secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and a group chief executive for the newly formed Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group.
Samantha Jones has been appointed as permanent secretary at the DHSC. The former nurse is currently a non-executive director at DHSC and the chief operating officer for Xlinks, a renewable energy company.
Jones joins DHSC as the government is rebuilding the NHS as part of the Plan for Change and will be responsible for building a team to deliver this transformation, including appointing a chief operating officer.
She will replace Sir Chris Wormald, who left DHSC in December 2024 to become cabinet secretary.
Andrew Stephenson is joining University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust in June 2025 as chair.
He was the Conservative MP for Pendle in Lancashire from 2010 until 2024 and was also previously a volunteer first responder with the North West Ambulance Service for 11 years and a former minister for the NHS and secondary care.
Jane Bailey has been appointed as chair of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, succeeding Sir Norman Lamb¸ who retired in March 2025 after five years in the role.
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Trust has announced that Heidi Travis has joined as its new chair, effective immediately.
Since 2018, she has been a non-executive director at the trust and in April 2024 she became its interim chair following the departure of Alison Davis.
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, James Paget University Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn have announced the appointment of Professor Lesley Dwyer as group chief executive of the newly formed Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group.
She began the role on 5 May 2025 where she will oversee the strategic direction and delivery at all three trusts.
Dr Justin Whatling has left his role at Palantir Technologies to join Optum UK as chief executive officer.
He took up the position in May 2025, following almost four years as managing director of global health and life sciences at US firm Palantir, which holds the contract to deliver the NHS federated data platform.
Agilio Software, a provider of healthcare operations software, has appointed Dr Ben Betts as its new chief executive following a period of rapid growth.
Dr Jason Broch, a GP at the Oakwood Medical Practice in Leeds and medical director and chief clinical innovation and information officer at Leeds Health and Care Partnership, has joined the Highland Marketing advisory board.
The board debates issues in digital health and advises the health tech agency and its clients on policy, procurement and implementation.
Damian Pearce has been appointed chief commercial officer at Stalis, the end-to-end data specialists.
As an experienced health tech expert, Pearce has 19 years of experience delivering transformational programmes and change in the NHS.
Over the last 12 years, his focus has been on data, informatics and reporting delivery, including being involved in Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital and King’s College Hospital’s recent electronic patient record (EPR) implementation – the biggest Epic data migration in the country.
Reframe Cancer, a provider of specialist cancer navigation has announced the appointment of Nikki Cannon as head of cancer screening, with Reframe now offering cancer screening to patients.
Care City, a not-for-profit innovation centre that collaborates with NHS partners, local government and community organisations to develop and test new approaches to care, has appointed Helen England as the new chair of its Board of Directors.
