Movers and Shakers news roundup

Our first Movers and Shakers of 2026 features Professor Rachel Dunscombe leaving OpenEHR and the appointment of a new chief executive at NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Professor Rachel Dunscombe has taken the role of chief executive at Health Level Seven International, a global authority on healthcare data interoperability standards.

She succeeds Charles Jaffe, who concludes his tenure this month following nearly two decades of leadership.

Dunscombe was previously chief executive of openEHR International, where she led global adoption of open health data standards and strengthened partnerships with governments, standards bodies, and healthcare organizations worldwide. Prior to her role at OpenEHR, she served as chief executive of the NHS Digital Academy,

Teresa Fenech has been appointed as the chief executive of NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB. She officially started the role on 1 January 2026 after holding the role of acting chief executive since March 2025.

Fenech joined the ICB as director of nursing and quality at its inception in 2022, after leaving NHS England and NHS Improvement where she held national roles, including director of nursing: specialised commissioning.

Dr Victoria Tzortziou Brown began her three-year term as chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Council on 29 November 2025, succeeding Professor Kamila Hawthorne.

The General Medical Council  has announced the appointment of Professor Alan Denison as its new deputy medical director, replacing Professor Sue Carr who is retiring after six years in the role.

Julian Redhead, national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, will give up his role at NHS England in April 2026 after four years, to become trust-level chief executive at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, according to HSJ.

Rob Webster is stepping down as chief executive of West Yorkshire ICB. He has held the position since the ICB was formed in 2022, having previously led the system’s transformation partnership since 2016, when he became chief executive of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Rowan Pritchard Jones, chief medical officer, and Chris Douglas, chief nursing officer, are leaving Cheshire and Merseyside ICB.

It follows the departure of chief executive Cathy Elliott in November 2025 after five months in the role.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust has announced that Steve Williamson will join the trust in April 2026 as chief executive after serving his notice period at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

Williamson has been at Royal Cornwall Hospitals for four years. Previously he has held roles as chief executive for the health service in central Queensland, Australia, and chief executive at South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust.

Professor Jonathan Benger was appointed chief executive of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on 19 December 2025, having held the positions of deputy chief executive and chief medical officer.

He replaces Dr Sam Roberts, who announced in July 2025 that she would be standing down for family reasons.

Rosie Cooper, a former Labour MP who became known for campaigning on NHS matters, has stood down as chair of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust after three years.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust’s chair David Fillingham will fill in for the next six months.

Andy Heeps, who has been interim chief executive at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust since July 2025, has been appointed to the substantive role.

Roland Sinker, who was chief executive of Cambridge Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, stepped down at the end of 2025 after more than a decade in the role. He will join the University of Cambridge to lead a major review of its work and plans for inclusive innovation and growth.

HeliosX, a digital healthcare network and parent company of MedExpress and Dermatica, has appointed Dr Bryony Henderson as medical director to lead clinical excellence across its brands and markets.