The overseas leaders who could – but probably won’t – become the next NHS England chief

On 29 April NHS England declared it would be launching an “open, competitive recruitment process” to replace Sir Simon Stevens, who is due to leave at the end of July. HSJ understands the process will include an attempt to create a shortlist of international candidates to place alongside the British-based front-runners.

HSJ spoke to nine sources who have worked in or been influential at a senior level within government, and three of which have been closely involved in the recruitment of NHS England chief executives.

The overwhelming majority of HSJ’s sources agreed that the chances of finding an overseas leader who would want the role, be capable of carrying it out and be acceptable to British politicians, public and the NHS was a very tall order.

They noted that most very senior overseas healthcare leaders have a level of remuneration and a freedom from political influence not likely to be given to the next NHS England chief.

HSJ’s sources said any likely candidate would be an individual who was close to retirement and who, therefore, could afford to take the financial and reputational risk of taking on such a high profile job. A strong British connection might give a potential candidate enough reason to take the risk, and make them more palatable in the UK.   

The international candidates

HSJ’s sources were asked to suggest international healthcare leaders who had the skills and experience to be considered for the NHSE CEO role and should therefore be included in any thorough international recruitment search. We list their suggestions below. HSJ has no knowledge of whether these individuals have applied for the NHS England vacancy or would be interested if they were approached.

We list their names below in alphabetical order.

The distinction of these candidates from their potential UK competitors is that the majority of them are doctors. The only medic on HSJ’ s longlist of UK-based candidates is Tim Ferris, the American physician who recently joined NHSE as transformation director.

Greg Adams, chair and chief executive officer, Kaiser Permanente (US). Mr Adams stepped up into the top role at one of the US’s best know healthcare organisations in 2019. The not for profit organisation serves over 12 million people and has an annual operating revenue of close to $90bn.

Mike Apkon (US). Currently a management consultant, Dr Apkon led both Boston’s Tuft’s Medical Centre and Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.

Martin Bowles, national chief executive officer Calvary (Australia). An accountant by background, Mr Bowles held a wide variety of government jobs before joining the ‘not-for-profit Catholic healthcare organisation’ in 2017.

Marc Harrison, president and chief executive officer Intermountain (US). Intermountain are another not-for-profit US integrated system. Dr Harrison made Fortune magazine’s list of the ‘Top 50 World’s Greatest Leaders’ in 2019.

Christine Kilpatrick, chief executive, Royal Melbourne Hospital (Australia). Dr Kilpatrick has run the city’s largest hospital since 2017. Before that she was chief executive of the Royal Children’s Hospital for nine years.

Ernst Kuipers, chair Erasmus (Netherlands). Dr Kuipers runs Rotterdam’s hospital system, the largest in the country. He spent some time working in the US.

Gary Newton, president and CEO Sinai Health (Canada). Dr Newton leads the organisation which describes itself as “a leading academic health science centre and a trailblazer for integrated care across the health continuum”.

Ivy Ng, group CEO Singhealth (Singapore). Professor Ng Is the head of one of the largest group of healthcare institutions in Singapore. Her UK links include fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Kathryn North, CEO of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (Australia). Professor North was described by one of HSJ’s sources as both a “proven service leader” and a global “thought leader on genomics and medical science”.

Dominique Pon, director Pasteur Clinic (France). According to HSJ’s sources Mr Pon is ‘’widely regarded as France’s most capable manager and is now leading reform policy as an adviser to the French government”.

Jaewon Ryu, president and CEO Geisinger (US). Dr Ryu has run the north-east based health system since 2016. Before that he was president of integrated care delivery at Humana.

Kevin Smith, president and CEO University Health Network (Canada). Dr Smith’s LinkedIn profile describes him as “a pioneer in advancing integrated care models spanning the continuum of health and social services”.

…and an Englishman abroad

Sir Andrew Witty, chief executive officer, UnitedHealth Group (US).  The former GSK chief executive joined Sir Simon’s former employers in 2018 and got the top job earlier this year. Between April and December 2020 Sir Andrew was seconded to the World Health Organization, co-leading the effort to accelerate development of vaccines against covid-19.