NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and NHS Devon announce new interim CEO and executive team
NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and NHS Devon have appointed a new interim chief executive officer (CEO) and joint executive team as we take a major step towards operating as a single ‘cluster’ ahead of a formal merger next year.
‘Clustering’ means that, although both integrated care boards (ICBs) will continue to exist, they will work as one – with a single board, leadership team and staffing structure.
Interim CEO “delighted to be joining”
Mark Hackett joined as interim cluster CEO on Monday 16 March 2026, for an initial 12-month period. He will lead the two ICBs as a single south west peninsula cluster during a period of significant alignment across both systems.
Mark brings extensive leadership experience across the NHS and the wider health system, where he has led major transformations to improve clinical quality, outcomes, and financial sustainability into NHS Trusts and health organisations.
Speaking about his appointment, Mark said:
“I’m delighted to be joining colleagues at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and NHS Devon at such an important time for both organisations and the NHS more broadly.”
Cluster Chair, John Govett said:
“Mark brings a wealth of leadership and transformation experience and a strong track record of delivering improvement across complex health systems.
“His appointment will provide clear leadership for our two ICBs. Mark’s focus on improving outcomes for patients while ensuring long-term financial sustainability will be vital as we move through this next phase of our systems development.
“I would also like to thank Susan Bracefield and Libby Ryan-Davies, for their support as acting chief executives and accountable officers for our two integrated care boards, who have now returned to their current substantive posts.”
Joint executive team appointed
The organisations have appointed a new cluster executive team, following a recruitment process, who will commerce their new roles on Wednesday 1 April:
- chief clinical officer (chief nursing officer): Susan Bracefield
- chief finance officer: Simon Gittoes-Davies
- chief people officer: Patrick Weir
- chief place and transformation officer (chief medical officer): Chris Reid
- chief population health officer: Peter Collins
- chief strategic planning and commissioning officer: Libby Ryan-Davies
- company secretary: Philippa Harding
Together, they bring a wealth of experience, deep knowledge of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and Devon systems, and a strong commitment to collaboration across organisational and geographical boundaries to improve health and care for local people.
Cluster Chair, John Govett said:
“Our new ICB executive cluster structure reflects that ambition and will help us deliver greater consistency, stronger strategic leadership and better use of our shared resources.
“I would also like to recognise the contribution of colleagues across our existing executive teams. Their experience, knowledge and leadership continue to be vital to the work of both organisations, and we are grateful for the role they are playing in supporting our teams and partners as we move through this transition.”
The new structure was developed after a thorough period of engagement and consultation over the past couple of months to align leadership, share expertise and strengthen the collective ability to improve health and care for the local population.
From 1 April, the new cluster executive team will begin working with colleagues and partners across the cluster to deliver local priorities – including improving population health, tackling inequalities, supporting the workforce and transforming services.
Background information
In March 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care announced that all ICBs were required to reduce their running costs and shift to a more strategic role with some changes in responsibilities.
This required many ICBs – including NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and NHS Devon – to develop plans to “cluster” with other local ICBs. ‘Clustering’ means that, although both ICBs will continue to exist, they will work as one – with a single Board, leadership team and staffing structure, underpinned by some decisions that will continue to go through the sovereign Boards during clustering.
The changes are part of a wider NHS reform programme, to reduce management costs and focus more money on the front line, which stemmed in part from the outputs of a review into the NHS conducted by Lord Darzi in September 2024.
Following approval of national funding for the costs of change in November 2025, ICBs were asked to develop and implement structures that meet the new running costs allocation by April 2026.
Over the past few months, NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and NHS Devon have been developing proposals that build on the experience and successes of both organisations since their formation in 2022, with real opportunities to learn from each other as they start to work more closely together.
Both organisations have a shared aim to drive sustained improvement in population health outcomes across the peninsula and build the organisational capabilities described in the national Model ICB Blueprint.
To achieve this, they will put people, patients, customers and communities at the heart of all their work, and make the most of opportunities for digital, clinical and workforce innovation in designing and commissioning new care models and services, and enabling different and more efficient ways of working within a leaner workforce.