Ex-DH boss takes NHS and data firm jobs

A former candidate to be NHS England’s chief executive has been appointed to chair a health innovation network, as well as to a board role at a data and AI company.

Mark Britnell will join Health Innovation Manchester in September, taking over from Rowena Burns, who is stepping down.

HINs, formerly known as academic health science networks, are owned by the NHS and help provider trusts adopt and spread new technology and innovations.

Mr Britnell is a former director general at the Department of Health and chief executive of University Hospitals Birmingham.

In the last decade, he has worked for KPMG, including as its global head of health, government and infrastructure.

He has also been appointed to the board of an Australian company, Beamtree Holdings Ltd, which offers AI decision support and health data insights, having chaired one of its committees since 2021. The company has an office in central London.

Mr Britnell said: “I have had a close affiliation to Manchester for the last 50 years and have seen the city-region transform to become the pre-eminent health innovation cluster in the UK, and well regarded around the world…

“I’m [also] delighted to join the board of Beamtree as it develops its brand internationally… I hope my personal experience of working in 81 countries will help customers around the world.”

He was a shortlisted candidate to replace Sir Simon Stevens – now Lord Stevens – as NHSE’s chief executive in 2021, when Amanda Pritchard was appointed. He was also in talks about taking the job in 2013, when it went to the then Mr Stevens.