David Nicholson is a leading healthcare professional who formerly worked as the Chief Executive of the NHS and NHS England. Amongst such roles, David has also been the Chief Executive of the London Strategic Health Authority, and he is currently the Chair of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. Now booked to appear as a keynote speaker at corporate events, David is hired to share his expertise in managing healthcare services and public policy.
After joining the NHS as a graduate trainee, David dedicated the first decade of his career to mental health – working to close mental asylums and developing the care available to those suffering from mental illness. In the 1980s, he moved into the acute hospital sector and became the Chief Executive of Doncaster and Montague NHS Hospital Trust. This appointment started a long career as healthcare CEO, afterwards going on to become the Trent NHS Regional Director of Performance. He has since been the Chief Executive of Birmingham and The Black Country Strategic Health Authority, West Midlands Strategic Health Authority and the NHS Commissioning Board Special Health Authority.
His biggest role came in 2006 when he was appointed as the Chief Executive of the NHS, and in 2012 when he was appointed as the Chief Executive of NHS England. Becoming revered for his ability to stay calm under pressure, David has since acted as the Chair of the Universal Health Forum, the Chair of the Impact Committee for Evercare Hospital Lahore, the Chair of the Mental Health Advisory Board for the Institute of Public Policy Research and President of the State Health Service Organisation. Other prominent roles include being the Non-Executive Director of Lifecycle, the Chairman of State Health Services Organisation in Cyprus, Director of David Nicholson Healthcare Solutions, a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Global Health Innovation and a Global Advisor for KPMG.
Appointed both CBE and Knight Commander by the Queen, David is highly commended for his services to the English healthcare system. Having sat at the helm of a wide variety of healthcare boards and trusts, David is an expert in healthcare management and has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Central England. Appointed to his roles in the NHS following the NHS reforms, David worked through turbulent times for the service and emerged successfully. When looking for a healthcare expert to speak at your event, David Nicholson provides a unique perspective on the healthcare industry.
