Meet our board

Sir Mark Lowcock, Chairman

Sir Mark Lowcock was appointed as Chairman in April 2025. He is a committed public servant and has a distinguished career in both the Civil Service and international humanitarian leadership. He previously served as Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development between 2011 and 2017, and at the United Nations as the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator between 2017 and 2021.

Sir Mark brings a wealth of experience in government as well as international experience to the NHS, which includes supporting dramatic improvements in life expectancy in Africa and South Asia and coordinating UN humanitarian assistance in countries across the world affected by natural disaster and conflict.

Jacqueline Totterdell, Chief Executive

Jacqueline is the proud CEO of gesh which is made up of two hospital trusts, has 17,000 staff, a £1.7bn budget and is one of the largest NHS organisations in England.  

She joined St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as Chief Executive in May 2017 where she led the organisation out of financial special measures. She also became the CEO of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals in 2021 forming a group and is one of the most senior women in the NHS leading large teaching hospitals.  

Jacqueline is also the leader of the South West London Acute Provider Collaborative which is one of the best in the country for elective performance.  

She is the Chair of the Clinical Research Network for South London, the regional CEO lead for the implementation of the NHS People Plan, is part of the Board looking at the procurement of a new NHS electronic staff record and a charity trustee.  

Jacqueline began her career in the NHS as a paediatric intensive care nurse. She was recently featured in the Nursing Times and you can read more about her earlier career below From nurse to chief executive: what it takes to reach the top | Nursing Times  

After two Executive Director posts at Barnet & Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, and then Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Jacqueline held Chief Executive positions at Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and West Middlesex University Hospital where she oversaw the merger of the Trust with Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. 

Before taking up her role at St George’s in May 2017, Jacqueline spent 18 months as part of the Executive Team supporting Barts Health NHS Trust out of special measures. 

In her spare time, Jacqueline is an accomplished single-handed yachtswoman with more than 20 years sailing experience and a keen rugby fan. 

 

Dr Richard Jennings, Group Chief Medical Officer

Dr Richard Jennings joined St George’s in December 2018 as Chief Medical Officer. Richard joined St George’s from Whittington Health NHS Trust, where he had been Executive Medical Director for four years.

Dr Jennings specialises in infection and acute medicine, and underwent his training at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Before becoming Executive Medical Director at the Whittington, he held the posts of Clinical Director for medicine and then Deputy Medical Director.

 

Arlene Wellman MBE, Group Chief Nursing Officer

Arlene qualified as a general registered nurse in Trinidad and migrated to the UK with the intention of training as a midwife. However she fell in love instantly with elderly care nursing and has more than 20 years’ experience in this speciality. Arlene holds a first degree in Health and Social Care for Older People and a Master’s degree in Clinical Healthcare Practice.

She has held various senior nursing roles across acute trusts, including Matron, Senior Matron and Divisional Nurse at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.

 

Andrew Grimshaw, Group Chief Finance Officer

Andrew has over 30 years’ experience in NHS finance and has worked in wide range of organisations from district general hospitals, tertiary, teaching and ambulance trusts. He joined St George’s Hospitals as Chief Financial Officer in 2017 and also held the post of Deputy Chief Executive from 2019 until the formation of the Group.

 

Victoria Smith, Group Chief People Officer

Vicky joined St Georges, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals in July 2024 as the Group Chief People Officer.

Vicky has a wide variety of experience, most recently as HR Director for the Ministry of Defence. She started her career in the private sector working as a Management Consultant with many well-known multinational organisations such as BP, Lloyd’s Banking Group, HSBC and Novartis. She has been a Senior Civil Servant for the last ten years and has worked in many of the large central government departments. She also had a spell of working with the NHS in the early part of her career. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and is a passionate advocate for inclusion and wellbeing.

Ralph Mitchell, Group Chief Transformation Officer

Ralph was appointed as Group Chief Transformation Officer in April 2025. He was previously Director of Strategy at gesh, having joined St George’s in 2018. He has worked in national transformation roles at NHS England and the Cabinet Office. He started his career doing public affairs in the voluntary sector. 

Stephen Jones, Group Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

Stephen has been Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since March 2018. He was previously Chief of Staff and executive lead for corporate governance at the General Medical Council. Prior to this, Stephen worked as Stakeholder Engagement Director on Co-operation and Competition policy at NHS Improvement. He held a number of senior roles within the Department of Health central policy unit where he led on NHS Foundation Trust policy, the NHS Constitution and legislative engagement. At the Department, Stephen also served as Senior Private Secretary to the Minister for Quality. Prior to working in healthcare, Stephen was an adviser to the House of Commons Defence Committee and was a foreign policy adviser in the House of Commons Research Service. As Group Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Stephen will lead on corporate governance, risk management, legal services and Freedom to Speak Up, and will act as governance adviser to the Boards of Epsom & St Helier and St George’s and to the St George’s Council of Governors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Bagnall, Group Chief Officer, Facilities, Infrastructure and Environment

Mark joined gesh in August 2024. He is a chartered building services engineer with many years' experience in designing, building and operating buildings in healthcare, higher education, historic buildings and MOD premises.

Mark previously worked at Barts Health as their Group Estates, Facilities and Capital Development Director and prior to that he was in a similar role at University Hospital Southampton.

 

James Blythe, Managing Director for Epsom and St Helier Hospitals

James is Managing Director of Epsom and St Helier Hospitals (ESTH), Senior Responsible Officer for the Trust's New Hospital Programme scheme, place executive lead for Sutton for South West London Integrated Care Board, and a South West London Integrated Care Board member.  

James was previously Managing Director of Merton and Wandsworth CCGs, and Director of Commissioning for Surrey Downs CCG.     

James was seconded to work across ESTH and St George’s University Hospitals as Collaboration Programme Director from September 2020, leading to the agreement of the new hospital group by both Boards in June 2021. Through his CCG roles in Surrey and Merton, James has had longstanding involvement with plans to redevelop the acute estate at ESTH, and also led the engagement and decision-making process for an integrated renal service between the two Trusts.    

James joined the NHS via the national Management Training Scheme in 2004.  

 

Thirza Sawtell, Managing Director for Integrated Care

Thirza began her career as a Health Visitor before moving into the operational management of community services and then into the commissioning and strategic planning of health and care services across a number of areas of London. For the past six years she has worked in SW London and Surrey as the Executive Director of Integrated Care for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, responsible to the Partnership Boards of Surrey Downs and Sutton each of which deliver a wide range of truly integrated community services for their local communities. Prior to this she was Director of Strategy for the North West London Collaboration and led the Pioneer Whole System Integration Programme.

All non-executive directors (NEDs) are members of the trust board and are able to vote at our board meetings. They are appointed to the trust by the Appointments Commission. They serve a term of five years each and their periods of appointment are staggered in order to provide consistency to the board's decision-making processes.

Non-executive directors represent the interests of the communities they serve and provide both support and challenge on the trust board. Non-executive directors bring to the board their skills and experience gained from across a number of diverse backgrounds.

Voting Board members: Non-executive directors

Sir Mark Lowcock, Group Chairman

Sir Mark Lowcock was appointed as Chairman in April 2025. He is a committed public servant and has a distinguished career in both the Civil Service and international humanitarian leadership. He previously served as Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development between 2011 and 2017, and at the United Nations as the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator between 2017 and 2021.

Sir Mark brings a wealth of experience in government as well as international experience to the NHS, which includes supporting dramatic improvements in life expectancy in Africa and South Asia and coordinating UN humanitarian assistance in countries across the world affected by natural disaster and conflict.

Ann Beasley, Non-executive director 

Ann Beasley joined ESTH as a Non-Executive Director in June 2021. She has a background in finance, her most recent role being Director General for the Finance, Assurance and Commercial Group at the Ministry of Justice. Ann has also been Chair of Trustees for the Alzheimer’s Society. Ann was awarded a CBE in 2010.

Ann Beasley joined St George’s Board as a Non-Executive Director in October 2016 and in September 2018 was appointed as Chairman of South West London and St George’s NHS Mental Health Trust.

Peter Kane, Non-executive director 

Dr Peter Kane joined the ESTH Board on Friday 1 October and will be Chair of the Audit Committee. 

Dr Peter Kane has a doctorate in economics from the London School of Economics and is a qualified accountant. Throughout his career he has worked in public services, including in the Treasury and Cabinet Office. His most recent role was the Chamberlain (or Chief Finance Officer) of the City of London Corporation, a job that dates back to 1237.

Peter brings with him a wealth of experience in finance, risk, performance, and of working in partnership to get things done and he is also a non-executive director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Historic England Audit Committee Peter joined the St George’s Board on 1 October and is Chair of the Audit Committee and holds a similar role at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Andrew Murray, Non-executive director 

Dr Andrew Murray joined Epsom and St Helier as a Non-Executive Director in February 2024 and chairs the Quality Committee and is a Maternity Safety Champion. He holds the same roles at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, having been appointed to the St George’s Board in January 2023. He is a GP managing partner at the Nelson Medical Practice in Merton, an experienced health system leader, healthcare consultant and executive coach. 
 
He was previously a Clinical Commissioning Group chair (Merton & South West London) and worked in senior roles in the South West London health system and Integrated care System for over 10 years with a particular focus on clinical leadership, population health management and children and young people’s mental health.
 
He also has an interest in developing world healthcare, education and community development and previously helped to set up a major community health worker training programme in Myanmar and chaired the UK arm of the organisation.

Chiew Yin Jones, Non-Executive Director

Chiew Yin is a barrister with over 25 years' experience in criminal justice and is an experienced advocate with a substantial casework and litigation background. She also sits as a Legally Qualified Chair for the Police Misconduct Panel in London and the South East region. She has several health-related roles including being a member of the Lay Committee at the Royal College of Anaesthetists and a former trustee of the Cleft Lip and Palate Association.

Professor Natalie Armstrong

Professor Natalie Armstrong is the Executive Dean for the School of Health &  Medical Sciences at City St George’s, University of London. She is the University-appointed Non-Executive Director on the Board. Prior to joining City St George’s in January 2025, Natalie spent 17 years at the University of Leicester, where she held various senior leadership roles, including as University-appointed Non-Executive Director to the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire Group.

Natalie’s academic background is as a social scientist and her research uses social science theory and methods to support the delivery of high quality, safe healthcare. Her interdisciplinary health services research typically involves mixed-methods collaborations with both clinical and non-clinical colleagues.

Non-voting board members: non-excecutive directors

Phil Wilbraham, Associate non-executive director

Phil Wilbraham joined the Board in 2020 as an Associate NED. He is a civil engineer who has spent his career delivering projects in the UK and overseas.

For the last 20 years of his executive career he was continuously involved in the transformation of Heathrow Airport and is particularly associated with the delivery of the new Terminals two and five.

He is a trustee of the Building Research Establishment, Co-Chair of Constructing Excellence and was Co-Chair of the Infrastructure Innovation Portal.