Board members
In December 2021, we announced our new group executive team to lead the St George’s, Epsom and St Helier hospital group – visit our website here to learn more about the group executive team.
Sir Mark Lowcock, Chairman
Sir Mark Lowcock was appointed as Chairman in April 2025. He is a committed public servant and has a distinguished career in both the Civil Service and international humanitarian leadership. He previously served as Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development between 2011 and 2017, and at the United Nations as the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator between 2017 and 2021.
Sir Mark brings a wealth of experience in government as well as international experience to the NHS, which includes supporting dramatic improvements in life expectancy in Africa and South Asia and coordinating UN humanitarian assistance in countries across the world affected by natural disaster and conflict.
Jacqueline Totterdell, Group Chief Executive
Jacqueline is the proud CEO of gesh which is made up of two hospital trusts, has 17,000 staff, a £1.7bn budget and is one of the largest NHS organisations in England. She joined St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as Chief Executive in May 2017 where she led the organisation out of financial special measures. She also became the CEO of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals in 2021 forming a group and is one of the most senior women in the NHS leading large teaching hospitals.
Jacqueline is also the leader of the South West London Acute Provider Collaborative which is one of the best in the country for elective performance. She is the Chair of the Clinical Research Network for South London, the regional CEO lead for the implementation of the NHS People Plan, is part of the Board looking at the procurement of a new NHS electronic staff record and a charity trustee.
Non-Executive Directors
Ann Beasley, Non-Executive Director (Deputy Chair)
Ann Beasley joined St George’s as a Non-Executive Director in October 2016. She has a background in finance, her most recent role being Director General for the Finance, Assurance and Commercial Group at the Ministry of Justice. Ann has also been Chair of Trustees for the Alzheimer’s Society. Ann was awarded a CBE in 2010 and in September 2018 was appointed as Chairman of South West London and St George’s NHS Mental Health Trust.
Chiew Yin Jones, Non-Executive Director
Chiew Yin is a barrister with over 25 years’ experience in criminal justice and is an experienced advocate with a substantial casework and litigation background. She also sits as a Legally Qualified Chair for the Police Misconduct Panel in London and the South East region. She has several health-related roles including being a member of the Lay Committee at the Royal College of Anaesthetists and a former trustee of the Cleft Lip and Palate Association.
Peter Kane, Non-Executive Director
Dr Peter Kane has a doctorate in economics from the London School of Economics and is a qualified accountant. Throughout his career he has worked in public services, including in the Treasury and Cabinet Office. His most recent role was the Chamberlain (or Chief Finance Officer) of the City of London Corporation, a job that dates back to 1237.
Andrew Murray, Non-Executive Director
Dr Andrew Murray joined St George’s as a Non-Executive Director in January 2023 and chairs the Quality Committee and is a Maternity Safety Champion. He was also appointed to the same role at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust in February 2024. He is a GP managing partner at the Nelson Medical Practice in Merton, an experienced health system leader, healthcare consultant and executive coach.
Professor Natalie Armstrong – Non-Executive Director
Professor Natalie Armstrong is the Executive Dean for the School of Health & Medical Sciences at City St George’s, University of London. She is the University-appointed Non-Executive Director on the Board. Prior to joining City St George’s in January 2025, Natalie spent 17 years at the University of Leicester, where she held various senior leadership roles, including as University-appointed Non-Executive Director to the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire Group.
Natalie’s academic background is as a social scientist and her research uses social science theory and methods to support the delivery of high quality, safe healthcare. Her interdisciplinary health services research typically involves mixed-methods collaborations with both clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
Pankaj Davé Non-Executive Director
Pankaj joined St. George’s as a Non-Executive Director in February 2025. He’s a qualified accountant who has worked globally as a senior executive, leading teams in finance, strategy, commercial, business transformation, planning, performance management and oilfield operations. He also ran his strategy consultancy business.
As a direct report to the managing director, Pankaj led and delivered a major five-year business transformation for India’s largest conglomerate, Reliance Industries to standardise processes, systems, data and organisation. He also led the design and implementation of a new group operating model.
He recently completed his term as a Non-Executive Director for University Hospitals Dorset, chairing the Transformation and the People & Culture Committees to oversee post-merger integration and a major hospital rebuild program.
Pankaj serves on the Board of Trustees at the Royal College of Surgeons of England and chairs the Audit & Risk Committee. He previously served as a trustee for Kidney Research UK.
Claire Sunderland Hay
Claire Sunderland Hay has been an Associate Non-Executive Director at St George’s since October 2024. She’s a qualified accountant with senior experience in the public and private sector, including at the Bank of England, FSA, and globally significant financial services groups.
Beyond her role at St George’s, Claire is a senior executive in financial services. She has extensive experience in technology, innovation, and governance in highly regulated sectors, as well as working with Boards as both a non-executive and executive. Claire is a trustee and the Chair of the Risk Committee for UKSA and is an Independent Governance Advisor to the Royal College of General Practitioners. She was also previously a Non-Executive Director for Reliance Bank where she chaired their Board Conduct and Risk Committee.
Executive Directors
Arlene Wellman MBE, Group Chief Nursing Officer
Arlene qualified as a general registered nurse in Trinidad and migrated to the UK with the intention of training as a midwife. However she fell in love instantly with elderly care nursing and has more than 20 years’ experience in this speciality. Arlene holds a first degree in Health and Social Care for Older People and a Master’s degree in Clinical Healthcare Practice.
She has held various senior nursing roles across acute trusts, including Matron, Senior Matron and Divisional Nurse at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Mark Bagnall, Group Chief Officer, Facilities, Infrastructure and Environment
Mark joined gesh in August 2024. He is a chartered building services engineer with many years’ experience in designing, building and operating buildings in healthcare, higher education, historic buildings and MOD premises.
Mark previously worked at Barts Health as their Group Estates, Facilities and Capital Development Director and prior to that he was in a similar role at University Hospital Southampton.
Andrew Grimshaw, Group Chief Financial Officer
Andrew Grimshaw joined St George’s as our Chief Financial Officer in June 2017. Andrew was previously Director of Finance at London Ambulance Service, and was also Acting Chief Executive at LAS between January and June 2017.
Prior to joining LAS, Andrew worked at a number of teaching, specialist and district general hospitals, having joined the NHS as a trainee accountant in 1989. Andrew was also appointed Deputy Chief Executive in May 2019.
Dr Richard Jennings, Group Chief Medical Officer
Dr Richard Jennings joined the Trust in December 2018 as our Chief Medical Officer. Richard joined St George’s from Whittington Health NHS Trust, where he had been Executive Medical Director for four years. Dr Jennings specialises in infection and acute medicine, and underwent his training at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Stephen Jones, Group Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
Stephen joined the Trust as Director of Corporate Affairs in March 2018. Stephen was previously Chief of Staff and executive lead for corporate governance at the General Medical Council. Prior to this, Stephen worked as Stakeholder Engagement Director on Co-operation and Competition policy at Monitor (now NHS Improvement).
Victoria Smith, Group Chief People Officer
Vicky joined St Georges, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals in July 2024 as the Group Chief People Officer. Vicky has a wide variety of experience, most recently as HR Director for the Ministry of Defence. She started her career in the private sector working as a Management Consultant with many well-known multinational organisations.
Managing Directors
Kate Slemeck, Managing Director for St George’s Hospital
Kate previously worked at Royal Free Hospital as director of operations in 2011 before being appointed as chief operating officer in 2012 and then becoming chief executive of the Royal Free Hospital in 2018.