Meet our board

In December 2021, we announced our new group executive team to lead our hospital group.

The group executive team will be in operation from 1 February 2022. Biographies of our group executive team can be found below.

 

Jacqueline Totterdell, Group Chief Executive Officer

Jacqueline was appointed the Group Chief Executive of the St George’s and Epsom and St Helier hospitals group in August 2021, after joining St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as Chief Executive in May 2017. Jacqueline is also the CEO Lead for the South West London Acute Provider Collaborative.

A Paediatric Intensive Care Nurse by background, Jacqueline started her general management career at Leeds General Infirmary, moving on to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, after which she spent two years working for the Modernisation Agency.

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 Hospital in May 2017, Jacqueline spent 18 months as part of the Executive Team supporting Barts Health NHS Trust out of Special Measures.

 

Dr James Marsh, Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer

James has been at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals for more than 11 years, joining as a renal (kidney) consultant in 2003, before being made lead consultant for transplantation and, subsequently, clinical director for renal services. He was appointed as Deputy Medical Director in 2011.

He graduated with first class honours from the University of Oxford in the mid-1980s, continuing his clinical training at Guy’s Hospital where he earned a Distinction in pathology, surgery, pharmacology and therapeutics.

 

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.

 

Paul da Gama, Group Chief People Officer

Paul da Gama joined St George’s as our Chief People Officer in February 2021. Paul joined the Trust from West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, where he had been Chief People Officer since 2014. Prior to joining West Herts, Paul was Director of Human Resources at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. Paul began his career as a teacher, working in Japan and Poland, before joining banking group, HSBC, where he worked for 10 years. He has also worked at Royal Mail Group, where he held a variety of different senior HR roles.

 

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.

 

Kate Slemeck, Managing Director for St George’s Hospital

Kate previously worked at Royal Free Hospital as director of operations in 2011 before being appointed as chief operating officer in 2012 and then becoming chief executive of the Royal Free Hospital in 2018.

Kate originally trained as an Occupational Therapist. Her previous roles also include Director of Operations and Chief Operating Officer and she has nearly 30 years’ NHS management experience, mainly in acute trusts (including Northwick Park Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability).

 

James Blythe, Managing Director for Epsom and St Helier Hospitals

James joined the NHS via the national Management Training Scheme in 2004. After roles in acute hospitals, commissioning and management consultancy, he was Director of Commissioning of Surrey Downs CCG from 2014 to 2017, and Managing Director of Merton and Wandsworth CCGs from 2017 to 2020.

James was seconded to work across ESTH and SGUH 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 recently led the engagement and decision-making process for an integrated renal service between the two Trusts. James is an Epsom resident.

 

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.

Gillian Norton, Chairman

Gillian Norton OBE DL is Chairman of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. 

Gillian is Chairman in Common with St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust, which enables the two largest hospital trusts in south west London to collaborate further for the benefit of the communities we serve.

Gillian has previously held positions as Chief Executive of Richmond Council and Chief Executive of Wokingham Borough Council.

 

Martin Kirke, Non-Executive Director and Vice Chair

Martin Kirke is an experienced non-executive director and is also a qualified coach and mentor.

Martin has previously held HR director and change director roles at the Post Office, Ericsson, Serco Transport and BP including international roles based in Sweden and the USA. At BP, he was HR Global Operations Director for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. He also spent five years outside HR as a General Manager of a technology services business.

He has worked as a consultant on change programmes including the Cabinet Office/No10 as well as a leading role on the London 2012 Olympics with TfL.

He is a Fellow of the RSA and CIPD and has a first degree in Behavioural Science and a Masters degree in HR Management  from Cardiff University.

 

Peter Kane, Non-Executive Director

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

Peter 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.  He will also have a similar role at St George’s, and he is a non-executive director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and he is a non-executive member of the Education and Skills Funding Agency Board and Audit Committee.  

 

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.

 

Aruna Mehta, Non-Executive Director

Aruna Mehta had over 20 years’ experience in the financial sector, specifically in the areas of operational risk and controls management. She was Managing Director and Global Head Of Operational Controls at JP Morgan.

Since leaving JP Morgan, Aruna has been involved in education and social housing. She is currently Chair of Welfare Committee at Trinity School Croydon, Chair of Risk and Audit committee at The Kemnal Academy Trust, and member of Audit, Treasury and Project Approval committees at Affinity Sutton Housing Association.

She has lived in south west London since 1989, her husband is a consultant in medicine, and she has two daughters.

 

Dr Chris Elliot, Associate Non-Executive Director

Chris joined the Board of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust in June 2018.

He chairs the Surrey Downs Health and Care and Sutton Health and Care Provider Boards as well as being a member of the Patient Safety and Quality committee.

Chris undertook his medical training at Charing Cross Hospital, his junior hospital posts at St Helier Hospital, GP training in Merton and was a partner in general practice for over 30 years in Sutton. He is a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

During his time as a GP Chris was a GP trainer, undertook research, developed a multidisciplinary community team attached to his practice. Chris was Chief Clinical Officer of Sutton CCG until 2017.

Chris lives in Raynes Park and is currently studying for a masters degree in bioethics and medical law.

 

Phil Wilbraham, Non-Executive Director

‘Phil is a civil engineer who has spent his career delivering projects in the UK and overseas. Over the last 20 years he has been continuously involved in the transformation of Heathrow Airport and is particularly associated with the delivery of the new Terminals two and five.

He is particularly interested in the improvement and development of the built environment and as such is a trustee of the Building Research Establishment, Co Chair of Constructing Excellence and was Co Chair of the Infrastructure Innovation Portal.

Phil has lived in Reigate with his family for over 20 years.

 

Derek Macallan, Non-Executive Director

Derek Macallan joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in 2019. He is based at St George’s, University of London, where he is Professor of Infectious Diseases and Medicine. He also works as an honorary Consultant at St George’s Hospital, looking after patients with infectious diseases with a special interest in the care of people living with HIV infection. He trained in Medicine in Oxford and London. He is passionate about high-quality patient care based on good decision making and safe systems. Within the medical school, he leads an active research group investigating how the immune system is maintained throughout life and how immune cells fight virus infections. He lives in New Malden and when he is not at work, he likes to be out walking. He is excited to be joining such a forward-thinking proactive board and plans to take a special interest in the quality of patient care.