This week HSJ will reveal its second annual list of the exceptional chief executives leading NHS provider organisations.

HSJ Top Chief Executives 2015 will recognise 50 outstanding leaders of English NHS provider organisations.

This year our judges have also ranked their top 15 chief executives.

The countdown of the top 15 leaders will begin on Wednesday at 7.30am, culminating in the number one chief executive and the full list being revealed exclusively on the HSJ app at 3pm.

Digital subscribers can download the app from the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store. Once downloaded, navigate to “Magazine” to read it.

The list will be revealed for all subscribers on hsj.co.uk at 7.30am on Thursday.

HSJ editor Alastair McLellan said: “The last 12 months have been something of an annus horribilis for the NHS provider sector with the perfect storm of squeezed income, increasing demand, pressure from regulators and even an unprecedented row over the tariff. 

“Many well thought of provider chief executives have seen their organisations fall into deficit or rated as inadequate or requiring improvement by the Care Quality Commission. Public scrutiny and criticism of their actions has never been more intense. There has continued to be a steady stream of departures from the top job at NHS trusts, many deciding now is the right time to retire, others pushed by regulators.

“It is in this context that the really excellent chief executives shine. Our second annual list of the NHS’s leading provider chief executives contains many who have confronted difficulties in their own organisations which have bested more than a few of their counterparts.”

Discuss the list on Twitter using #HSJtopchiefs.