University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) has appointed Alex Shaw as its new Chief Delivery Officer, strengthening executive leadership across one of the NHS’s largest acute trusts.
In his role, Alex will be responsible for leading operational performance, improvement and transformation across the Trust, supporting the delivery of consistently high-quality, safe and effective care for patients across all services and sites.
Alex joins UHSussex from Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, where he most recently served as Interim Managing Director, having previously held the substantive position of Chief Operating Officer. During his time there, Alex led major improvements across urgent and emergency care, elective recovery, diagnostics, cancer performance and patient flow.
He has also overseen a number of significant transformation programmes, including the implementation of an electronic patient record, acute hospital reconfiguration, and outpatient service redesign.
Alex brings strong local system knowledge, having previously spent seven years working in Sussex in a range of senior leadership roles. He is delighted to be returning to the area and is committed to working closely with colleagues and partners across the system.
Alex said: “I am delighted to be joining University Hospitals Sussex and to be returning to Sussex. I am passionate about visible, compassionate leadership and about working with colleagues and partners to deliver consistently excellent care for patients across all our services and sites.”
Welcoming the appointment, Chief Executive Dr Andy Heeps said: “Alex brings a strong track record of operational leadership and large-scale transformation, alongside a clear commitment to compassionate leadership. We are delighted to welcome him to UHSussex and look forward to the impact he will make for our patients and staff.”
Alex takes up the role of Chief Delivery Office in August. He joins University Hospitals Sussex alongside other new senior leaders appointed as part of the Trust’s move to a new four-division operating model.
Managing Director for Surgery James Watts joins from Kings College Hospital in London where he is Director of Operations. Prior to this he has held senior operational roles at the Royal Free London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. James has a proven track record in achieving rapid and sustained operational improvements, financial delivery and improving quality of care.
Managing Director for Medicine Wilson Dodzo is experienced in leading large-scale transformation across urgent and emergency care, planned care and integrated pathways, most recently at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, where he is Director of Operations. An experienced system leader within ICS and Place environments, he is recognised for building strong partnerships across organisations to improve access, quality and outcomes for patients.
Managing Director for the new Women’s, Children’s and Clinical Support division Oliver White brings broad leadership experience from across the healthcare industry, having been Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Director of Operations in large NHS Trusts, working across elective and non-elective care. Most recently, he served as Operations Director as part of the Northern European Executive Team for a large international private healthcare provider.
They join Maria Emmanuel, previously UHSussex Divisional Director of Operations and now Managing Director of the Cancer and Specialist division. Maria has 20 years’ senior leadership experience across complex NHS acute and specialist services, leading large‑scale operational recovery and transformation across planned care, cancer and diagnostics that have delivered sustained improvements in access, performance, financial control and patient experience.