Chief Executive and Executive Directors
The Board of Directors manages the Trust's services and develops plans and strategies for the future. The Board includes full-time executives and part-time non-executive directors.
Chief Executive: Kevin McNamara
Kevin joined the Trust as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in January 2024 from Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust where he was the CEO from 2019, leading over 5,500 staff and local communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kevin has worked for the NHS since 2003, having worked for the South-Central Strategic Health Authority, before joining Great Western Hospital in 2009 where he was the Director of Strategy and Community Service before becoming CEO in 2019.
As CEO, Kevin is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the organisation through his executive team and for ensuring the implementation of the Board’s strategic objectives.
Deputy CEO, Director for Safety and Medical Director: Professor Mark Pietroni
Professor Mark Pietroni was appointed on 1 March 2019.
Mark’s career path has been varied, having spent 15 years in Bangladesh and, more recently, as Director of Public Health for South Gloucestershire; alongside this latter role Mark has worked as an Acute Physician and most recently also as Specialty Director for Unscheduled care at our Trust. Mark continues to practice as an acute physician one day a week while dedicating the rest of his week to his executive role
Director for People & OD: Claire Radley
Claire joined the Trust in February 2022 having previously been the Director for People at the Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Assistant Director of OD at Cardiff and Vale Health Board. Prior to that Claire worked in Policing in roles spanning research, performance, culture change, and organisational development. She has worked for a local police force and in national roles, including as the advisor to the Chair of the College of Policing. She has a Ph.D. in organisational culture.
Claire has experience in leading large-scale culture change work that has improved both staff and patient experience.
Director of Quality and Chief Nurse: Matt Holdaway
With a background in Critical Care nursing, Matt has extensive experience in nursing management, having previously held senior positions at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust where he was Divisional Director of Nursing before joining our Trust in 2021 as Deputy Director of Quality and Deputy Chief Nurse.
Matt was appointed to the Chief Nurse and Director of Quality position initially as an interim appointment and has held the substantive role since 2022. He continues to make a significant impact on our nursing workforce and the wider Trust.
Chief Operating Officer: Al Sheward
Al joined the Trust in December 2023 from Great Western Hospitals where he had held the position of Deputy Chief Operating Officer since May 2020. Prior to his time at Great Western, Al was Winter Director for the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care System.
Al played a key role in establishing the Swindon Integrated Care Alliance Coordination Centre building on experience from his time on the Isle of Wight and West Yorkshire, where he led a team using video-based technology to support residents in over 750 care homes across the UK
Director of Strategy and Transformation (Interim): Ian Quinnell
Ian has been with the Trust for 10 years and was previously the Deputy Director for Strategy & Transformation before taking on the interim Director role.
Having previously worked at the University of Birmingham and within the Electricity Distribution sector, Ian has over 25 years of Project and Programme Management experience in the delivery of IT, Organisational Change and the reconfiguration of clinical services as well as capital developments.
Within his Deputy role, Ian has led a team of Project and Programme Managers to deliver several of the Trust's strategic programmes of work that have included the Strategic Site Developments, our Fit for the Future Programme, the Culture Engagement Programme and our Financial Savings Programme.
Ian will be responsible for working with our partners, staff and patients to define the Trust’s Strategy and for leading the Transformation Programme to get us there.
Director of Finance: Karen Johnson
Karen Johnson is responsible for ensuring good stewardship of the public finances. She has worked in the public section for 23 years and prides herself on helping to make a difference to individuals and the community. She is fully committed to ensuring the Trust provides good value for money while maintaining good quality services.
Her key focus is to move the Trust to a financially sustainable position and will work closely with divisions and individuals to achieve this.
Karen joined the Trust in January 2020 from Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where she was Director of Finance from 2015.
Chief Digital and Information Officer (Interim): Helen Ainsbury
Helen joined the Trust in April 2023 as interim Chief Digital Information Officer. She began her career in the private sector over 25 years ago, before working for an international Non-Governmental Organisation and then joining the NHS, at Great Ormond Street, in 2003. She has also worked for North Bristol Trust and was Chief Information Officer, for six years, at what is now Manchester University Hospitals.
Helen’s route to Board level began in business intelligence and she retains a passion for data-driven digital and organisational transformation which delivers measurable benefits to patients and staff.