NHS England announces new executive team to lead transformation

Sir James Mackey will be leading NHS England’s transition into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), along with the incoming team.

He will officially take up the role as the new chief executive officer of NHS England on 1 April 2025, replacing Amanda Pritchard, who is stepping down at the end of this month.

On Monday, NHSE announced the NHS Transformation Executive Team, which will replace the current executive group.

The organisation said that the new team, composed of leaders from within the NHS and seconded roles, has been appointed following discussions with the health secretary Wes Streeting, DHSC officials, incoming Chair Dr Penny Dash, and the NHS England Board.

As part of the restructuring, the roles of chief operating officer and chief delivery officer have been removed.

Instead, the new structure introduces two co-medical directors, and new positions such as a financial reset and accountability director and elective care, cancer and diagnostics director.

NHS Transformation Executive Team

• Sir James Mackey – chief executive officer, responsible for overall accountability and leadership of the organisation. Temporarily, he will also oversee HR, OD and corporate operations; privacy, transparency and trust; legal; corporate governance; performance and delivery unit; inquiries; mental health, learning disability and autism.
• David Probert - Deputy CEO
• Meghana Pandit- Co-Medical Director – Secondary Care
• Claire Fuller - Co-Medical Director – Primary Care
• Duncan Burton- Chief Nursing Officer
• Elizabeth O’Mahony - Chief Financial Officer
• Glen Burley - Financial Reset Director and Accountability Director
• Mark Cubbon - Elective Care, Cancer and Diagnostics Director
• Vin Diwakar- Clinical Transformation Director
• Sarah-Jane Marsh - Urgent and Emergency Care Director
• Dr. Amanda Doyle- National Director of Primary Care and Community Services

Additionally, seven regional directors have been appointed:

• Anne Eden – South East
• Claire Panniker – East
• Dale Bywater – Midlands
• Fiona Edwards – North East and Yorkshire
• Louise Shepherd – North West
• Caroline Clarke – London
• Sue Doheny (acting) – South West

Except for the deputy chief executive officer, all team members will assume their roles on 1 April 2025 to support ongoing business priorities, statutory functions, and day-to-day operations.

Glen Burley, Mark Cubbon and David Probert will continue their current trust roles alongside their new roles within the Transformation Executive Team.

Professor Stephen Powis will remain in his role as national medical director until early July, working closely with Meghana Pandit and Claire Fuller to finalise arrangements for the medical directorate.

Regional Directors will report directly to Sir Mackey, as will Navina Evans (chief workforce, training and education officer) and Chris Hopson (chief strategy officer).

A new substantive chief digital officer is expected to be recruited soon.