King’s appoints Deputy Group Chief Executive and Site CEO

28 February 2020 - John Palmer appointed to newly created role

John Palmer has been appointed Deputy Group Chief Executive for King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Site Chief Executive for King’s College Hospital in south east London. Starting in late May 2020, he will report to Foundation Trust’s Group Chief Executive, Professor Clive Kay and will be a voting member of the Trust’s Board.

“I am delighted to be joining King’s at such an important time in the organisation’s development,” said John Palmer. “I am really looking forward to working with the senior team, clinicians, our staff and health system partners to deliver important outcomes for our population. I hope that my experience of delivering integrated care in proud, complex and deprived communities in South Wales over the last ten years will support the development and implementation of our own collaboration and transformational plans. I cannot wait to get started.”

In this newly created role, John will have specific responsibility for King’s College Hospital, south east London, including improving the hospital’s quality, people and performance standards for patients and staff. Together with his executive colleagues, John will contribute to the development and delivery of the Trust’s annual plans and objectives, and will also be accountable for the Trust’s transformation agenda, business planning and prioritisation. Additionally, John will work in close collaboration with health system partners. This will enable the Trust to play a key role in the evolution of site-based and out-of-hospital care to meet the future needs of patients across south east London.

Currently, John is Chief Operating Officer for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, with responsibility for its three district general hospitals in Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf. Previously, he has held a number of senior leadership roles in public health and government. These have included Director of Primary, Community and Mental Healthcare (Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board); Managing Director (Welsh Specialised Services) and Director of Public Service Improvement for the Welsh Assembly Government.

“I am extremely pleased that John is joining the senior team at King’s,” commented Professor Clive Kay. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this new role from his broad and successful career in public health and government. Together with the rest of the executive team, John’s appointment will enable King’s to transform the quality, experience and accessibility of its services to ensure we continue to put our patients first.”