Executive Directors
The Executive Team is experience and cohesive with a strong track record of financial and service performance.
Tony Spotswood, Chief Executive
Tony has been Chief Executive of the Trust since 2000. He was previously Chief Executive of Leicester General Hospital between 1998 and 2000 and a Trust Director for 20 years. Tony has extensive experience of leading organisations through strategic change including service reconfiguration and merger.
Helen Lingham, Chief Operating Officer
Helen joined the Trust in April 2008 as Director of Operations. Prior to this she was Director of Operations at NHS Lothian. Helen is responsible for strategic leadership, delivery of performance related targets and development of clinical services across the acute hospital. Her background is in Radiography prior to moving into NHS management in 2003. Helen was appointed Deputy Chief Executive in 2010.
Richard Renaut, Director of Service Development
Richard joined the NHS 15 years ago through the NHS management training scheme. He has worked in both Primary Care and Tertiary hospital settings. Prior to his appointment as Director of Service Development in April 2006, Richard was General Manager of the Orthopaedic Directorate.
Karen Allman, Director of Human Resources
Karen was appointed Director of HR in 2007. She joined the NHS in 2003 from the Audit Commission where she was HR Director for District Audit. Her early career was spent in the private sector in retail with Marks & Spencer and Fenwick before working in the City of the London Stock Exchange.
Stuart Hunter, Director of Finance and IT
Appointed in February 2007, Stuart has over 20 years of NHS experience, combined with being a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Stuart brings a commercial outlook to the Trust while understanding the fundamental complexities of the health service.
Mary Armitage, Medical Director
Mary was appointed Medical Director in November 2009. She is a Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist and was previously Clinical Director for Medicine. Mary served as Clinical Vice President of the Royal College of Physicians between 2004 and 2007 and currently works one day a week on secondment to the Department of Health as Deputy Director of Medical Education.
Paula Shobbrook, Director of Nursing
Paula was appointed in September 2011 and she brings with her a wealth of knowledge from working in various positions in the NHS, most recently as the Director of Nursing at Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust where she worked for ten years.
Hampshire-born Paula qualified from Southampton in 1991 and went on to work as a ward sister in acute medicine, cardiac and respiratory specialties. She also spent some time working as a manager in a Primary Care Group before moving back to into a hospital setting.
