ICB chair hired as CEO of another system
One of England’s largest integrated care boards has appointed a new chief executive, who is currently chair of a different ICB.
Cathy Elliott will take over from Graham Urwin as the next chief executive of Cheshire and Merseyside ICB.
Ms Elliott is currently chair of West Yorkshire ICB, which is seen as one of the leading systems in terms of transforming services, system working, and performance improvements.
She is also deputy chair of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and will stand down from these roles to take up her new CEO post. Previously, she was chair of Bradford District Care Foundation Trust and a non-executive director at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care FT in Greater Manchester.
In the past, she has been a CEO and officer in the third sector.
She said: “This is an exciting as well as challenging time to be joining the integrated care system with a focus in 2025-26 on enabling neighbourhood healthcare and the imminent arrival of the new 10-year plan for the NHS, alongside the financial challenges that all health and care partners face.
“I know from experience that I’m joining a system with a strong tradition of close partnership working, and this will be essential as we work together to face these challenges, transform services and improve care to make a real difference to the communities of Cheshire and Merseyside.”
Cheshire and Merseyside ICB was formed from nine clinical commissioning groups, and serves a population of 2.7 million, making it the fourth largest.
The region has seen a host of people moves over the past year and made strides to consolidate leadership structures at provider level. Several chief executives have announced their retirement or taken over at another trust.
Cheshire and Merseyside ICB chair Raj Jain said: “Cathy was the standout candidate throughout a recently completed recruitment process and her passion, drive and enthusiasm shone through – greatly impressing panellists, partners and stakeholders alike.
“I know that Cathy’s collaborative approach to leadership will enable her to work successfully across our ICB, and she will be joining the ICB at a really important time, not least with the new 10-Year Health Plan on the horizon.”
He was previously an NHS England regional performance director, including serving as covid-19 incident director for the North West, following posts as chief executive of South Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent primary care trusts.