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.

James Blythe, Interim Chief Executive

James was appointed Interim CEO of gesh in September 2025. He has served as Managing Director of Epsom and St Helier Hospitals since April 2022.

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.

Michael Pantlin, Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer 

Michael joined the NHS in 2008, after a successful career in the private sector, including IT, travel and banking industries. Before this, as a trainee in his profession, Michael commenced his career in palliative and HIV care in East London, where he grew a personal interest in health, care and well-being.

In deciding to return to this field, Michael joined the NHS as a Chief People Officer – first for Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust and then nearly nine years on the Board for the Barts Health Group of hospitals, including the development of its successful group model.
A growing interest in integrated care led him to Surrey Heartlands, where he led strategy across NHS, local authority, VCSE and social care sectors for workforce and digital development.

In April 2025, Michael was seconded to the St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group as Interim Group Deputy CEO.

Elaine Clancy, Interim Group Chief Nursing Officer

Elaine took on the role as interim Group Chief Nursing Officer in September 2025.

Previously Elaine was chief nursing officer for NHS South West London from July 2023. As chief nursing officer Elaine has an integral role in developing plans to improve health and care services and be responsible for ensuring they become a reality for local people.

In her role as chief nurse at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, Elaine was instrumental in delivering real quality improvements in patient care, both at Croydon University and Purley War Memorial Hospitals and in her joint role with South West London.

With over 30 years’ NHS experience, Elaine has held a number of senior nursing and managerial roles at major London teaching hospitals, as well as in community services and NHS commissioning.

 

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

 

Dr Leonie Penna

Dr Leonie Penna joined the Board on 1 October 2025 as an Associate Non-Executive Director.  Leonie was the Chief Medical Officer at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 5 years and has over 20 years’ clinical experience working at King’s as a consultant in high-risk obstetrics and fetal medicine. 

Prior to that Leonie worked as a consultant in Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She has held a number of leadership roles, initially focused on women’s health, at both King’s College Hospital and the Princess Royal University Hospital.  Leonie is also a Non-Executive Director at St George’s University Hospital NHS Trust. 

 

Bidesh Sarkar CBE

Bidesh Sarkar joined the Board of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust as a Non-Executive Director in October 2025. He brings more than two decades of board experience as an executive director in government, private, public and non-profit organisations.

 He has a wealth of experience leading finance and a wide range of corporate functions, in national and international settings. Most recently he was the Chief Financial Officer at the Department for Business & Trade. He has previously held non-executive roles in education, housing and shared services.  Bidesh is Chair of the Finance and Performance Committee and holds the same role at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

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.