Two ICBs appoint chief executives
Two integrated care boards in the Midlands have made their interim chief executives substantive.
Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin’s Simon Whitehouse, who joined the integrated care board on an interim basis in January 2022, has now been given a permanent role. He will lead the system as its substantive CEO.
Meanwhile, the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board has also confirmed the substantive appointment of Phil Johns.
He was appointed interim CEO of the ICB in March 2022, having led both clinical commissioning groups for several years beforehand.
Mr Whitehouse was chief executive of the two Cheshire CCGs for several years before moving to Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent sustainability and transformation partnerships as its lead director from 2017 until 2022.
The substantive appointments follow both ICB CEO posts being readvertised in September.
C&W and STW were among five West Midlands ICB which failed to appoint substantively when ICB chief jobs were first filled, along with the Black Country, Birmingham and Solihull, and Staffordshire and Stoke ICB.
BSol and the Black Country also hired interims who have been moved to substantive appointments over the past two years.
Staffordshire and Stoke ICB also readvertised its CEO post in September and appointed former North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust CEO Peter Axon substantively earlier this month.
STW ICB chair Sir Neil McKay added: “Simon has over 30 years of extensive experience in the NHS… I am looking forward to continuing to build on the good work we have delivered since the start of the ICB.
“I have no doubt that under Simon’s leadership, we will make significant strides towards improving the health and wellbeing of our local communities.”
C&W ICB said of Mr Johns’ appointment: “Following a competitive recruitment process, Phil Johns has been confirmed in post as our chief executive officer.
“Phil’s leadership has been a great asset to Coventry and Warwickshire through the initial development of our integrated care system.”