David French appointed to CEO role at University Hospital Southampton

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust has announced the appointment of David French to the role of chief executive officer.

David has been interim CEO of the Trust following the departure of Paula Head in November 2020, and after a robust recruitment process has now been appointed to the substantive role.

He joined the Trust in February 2016 as chief financial officer and also became deputy chief executive in 2019.

As a chartered management accountant, David came to the Trust with previous experience as the chief financial officer at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and extensive healthcare and commercial experience within the pharmaceutical industry.

David lives in Hampshire and is married with two children.

“It’s such an honour to be appointed chief executive officer of UHS,” he said. “I am hugely proud of what this amazing hospital trust stands for and the commitment from our 12,000 staff in supporting patients, and each other, which is so evident every day in the outstanding patient care they deliver.

“I am looking forward to working closely with colleagues in the trust and with our partners across Hampshire and Isle of Wight to ensure we continue to provide world-class care.”

He added: “Together with an ambitious and talented senior leadership team, I am delighted to be leading UHS into an exciting phase of our future development.”

Peter Hollins, chair of UHS, said: “Throughout his time in the interim role and during the selection process, David has demonstrated exactly the right range of skills to take UHS into the future and at the same time ensure that it plays a leading role in the wider Hampshire and Isle of Wight healthcare system.

“We are delighted to have appointed him to the substantive role and the Trust Board is looking forward to working with him and the executive team in the continued delivery of our values and ambitions for the future.”