Think tank appoints trust boss as new CEO

Ms Stein has been the chief executive at Leeds Community Healthcare Trust since 2014 and is a trustee of the Nuffield Trust. Previously, she has been chief executive officer of the Carers Trust, Yorkshire Forward – a regional developmental agency – and a primary care trust in Leeds.

She has also worked in public health and primary care commissioning, and began her career as a clinical psychologist in homelessness, and drug and alcohol services.

Ms Stein will replace Nigel Edwards at the Nuffield Trust, whose nine-year tenure will end in September.

Reflecting on her appointment, Ms Stein said she is “thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the organisation” at a “critical time for the NHS and social care”. 

“I am looking forward to working with the Nuffield Trust’s excellent team to influence and change policy and practice in the UK,” she added.

Leeds has been one of the most prominent community health trusts. Ms Stein is a trustee of Nuffield, and worked with it on several projects including, recently, end-of-life care in people’s homes.

Nuffield Trust chair Professor Martin Marshall said she was “a creative, compassionate and thoughtful senior leader” and “her experience in community healthcare and social care will bring much-needed visibility to these vitally important and often overlooked elements”.

Mr Edwards said: “This is a fantastic appointment for the Nuffield Trust. Thea brings with her a wealth of experience in leading organisations at the cutting edge of service delivery. She is a talented and original thinker and I am greatly looking forward to seeing the organisation develop under her leadership.”

He announced in January that he would be standing down, and plans to pursue freelance consultancy work in the UK and abroad. 

Brodie Clark, chair of Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, said: ”Thea’s leadership over many difficult and challenging times has been unwavering and of the highest value. Equally, her contribution to the city-wide and West Yorkshire healthcare system has been innovative, thoughtful and impactful. She will be a great loss on both counts.”

The trust said it will begin the process of recruiting her successor over summer, with Ms Stein likely to remain in post until late summer.