Movers and Shakers news roundup

July’s edition of Movers and Shakers features news from Moorfields Eye Hospital and Palantir revealing a new managing director for its UK operations.

The end of June saw the announcement that Peter Thomas would be stepping into the chief clinical information officer (CCIO) role at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in August.

The consultant joined the trust in 2017 and took a special interest in machine learning and artificial intelligence, pioneering the hospital’s use of digital medicine and telemedicine.

In his capacity as CCIO, Thomas will be in charge of raising awareness of clinical informatics as an important element in safe, high-quality patient care.

He said: “I am delighted to be offered the role of chief clinical information officer at Moorfields and I hope to use this opportunity to use digital medicine in innovative ways to help our patients receive the best care possible.”

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust has announced Richard Mitchell will take up the position as the trust’s chief executive from Autumn 2021.

Mitchell is currently the chief executive at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and has also worked in a number of senior operational roles in Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Imperial College Hospital.

He said: “I am delighted to be joining UHL as chief executive. My family and I have lived in Leicestershire for eight years and our two children were born at UHL. It will be a privilege to be part of the team again and I am confident we will further improve patient care and the experiences colleagues have at UHL.

“Recognising how tough the last 18 months have been for us all in our working and personal lives, I do feel optimistic and confident about the trust’s future. I know the planned investment and reconfiguration coupled with even closer working with partners gives us a great opportunity to permanently transform LLR and UHL. I am very excited to be part of the team.”

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has appointed Tyson Hepple as its new executive director of operations.

Hepple, who is currently director general at the Home Office, is expected to start at CQC in early August.

He said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Care Quality Commission at such an important time for both the CQC and the wider health and care sector.

“The launch of CQC’s new strategy is a unique opportunity to drive positive change and enhance the vital work already being done here to improve the quality of health and social care services.”

Sensyne Health has appointed Ian Hudson to its board as an independent non-executive director.

Hudson has previously served as chief executive of the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) between 2013 and 2019. Prior to this, he was the MHRA’s licensing director, responsible for most of the agency’s medicines licensing activities.

He started his new role on 28 June 2021.

Hudson said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated how important clinical AI is to the effective management of health. Sensyne has been at the forefront of this trend, applying ethical AI to improving healthcare and life sciences research and I’m looking forward to supporting the company on what is an increasingly global journey.”

Peter Arduini has been appointed as president and CEO of GE Healthcare and will succeed Kieran Murphy who will continue to serve in his current role until the end of 2021.

Arduini will join GE Healthcare on January 3 2022 and joins the company from Integra LifeSciences (NASDAQ: IART) where he has served as president and CEO since January 2012. Until then he will work closely with Murphy for a transition period.

He said: “GE Healthcare’s world-class portfolio and leadership in precision health positively impacts the lives of billions of patients worldwide.

“Also, the business’s global scale, technical and commercial capabilities, and growth potential as one of the world’s leading medical technology companies is compelling. I am thrilled to be rejoining GE and for the opportunity to work with GE Healthcare’s talented team.”

Palantir has appointed Dr Justin Whatling as its UK managing director.

He joins the global tech firm from US health IT supplier Cerner and his main role will be to provide guidance to Palantir’s health and life sciences clients, including NHS England.

Dr Whatling was previously vice president of population health at Cerner, specialising in population health management and clinical transformation in Europe. He is also a former chair of BCS Health and Care.