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New Chief Executive announced

28 Jun 2023, 10:14 a.m.

Following an open and competitive recruitment process, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin McNamara as our new Chief Executive.

Kevin is currently the Chief Executive at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and has worked in the NHS in a number of senior roles for over 20 years.

Deborah Evans, Chair of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says:

“Kevin is an immensely experienced leader and I am thrilled that he will be joining our Trust. He brings a wealth of experience and is focused on listening to colleagues and understanding what matters to them, in making our hospitals a great place to work and receive care.

“On behalf of the Board and wider organisation, I would like to thank Deborah Lee who has been our Chief Executive for seven years and who hands the baton on to Kevin.

Kevin McNamara says:

“I am delighted to be joining the Trust as Chief Executive and look forward to working with colleagues, our partners and our local communities.

“My preparation and the recruitment process enabled me to speak to a wide number of staff and partners, to listen to their experiences and understand the challenges and opportunities ahead.

“I know that the hard work has already started to improve the experience of both colleagues and patients, with an ambitious programme of cultural and operational improvement and I look forward to being part of this change.”

Chief Executive Deborah Lee comments:

“I look forward to welcoming Kevin to the Trust and am excited about working alongside him as part of the transition

"My time as Chief Executive has been challenging at times, but equally the most rewarding of my 40-year career. The work we have started with colleagues means I am able to use the final few months to ensure there is a positive legacy for Kevin to take forward."

Details are still being finalised, but Kevin will join the organisation with a planned transition, before Deborah Lee leaves the role in March 2024.

Kevin McNamara

Photograph of Kevin McNamara, wearing a dark coloured suit, shirt and polka dot tie.

Kevin has been the Chief Executive at Great Western Hospitals since 2019, leading over 5,500 staff and local communities through the pandemic.

He has worked for the NHS since 2003, having worked for the South-Central Strategic Health Authority, before joining Great Western in 2009, where he was the Director of Strategy and Community Service, before becoming CEO in 2019.

During his career at Great Western, Kevin led the Trust’s transformation move from being a stand-alone secondary care provider to an integrated secondary, community and primary care organisation.

He is focused on increasing the quality of care provided to patients, joining up services where possible to provide a better patient experience, and ensuring staff are well-supported and recognised for their efforts.