Chief executive and executive directors

Chief Executive: Maria Kane OBE

Maria Kane OBE was appointed as joint chief executive of North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust in July 2024. Prior to this she was chief executive of NBT from April 2021.

Maria previously worked as chief executive of North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust from 2017 until 2021, as chief executive of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust between 2007 and 2017, and as executive director at North West London Strategic Health Authority between 2002 and 2006. Maria has held a variety of senior roles in corporate and strategic development for the Royal College of Midwives, Medical Protection Society and the National Council of Voluntary Organisations.

In 2019, Maria was made an OBE for services to health care leadership over two decades, particularly in North London.

Maria has played a major role in system leadership, having been chair of Bristol Health Partners, a member of the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, and a member of Health Innovation West of England. She is also the South West representative for the NHS Genomics Board, and a previous member of the NHS Impact National Improvement Board.

Maria has previously been a trustee of Open Door, Umbrella Mental Health, and Young Minds, as well as an adviser to the Lullaby Trust and a special adviser to the Care Quality Commission. She was also chair of governors of a primary school for ten years.

Hospital Managing Director, Southmead: Glyn Howells

Glyn has significant board and senior leadership experience in both the private and public sectors, with over 14 years NHS experience in both commissioning and provider organisations in addition to more than 10 years of board level director roles in the commercial world.

His experience covers multiple portfolios including finance, estates, IMT projects and operations. He joined NBT in 2019 initially in the finance function including being chief finance officer since 2021. More recently, Glyn was appointed interim hospital managing director for NBT in September 2024, providing overall site-based leadership during the transition to group, promoting a culture of collaboration across the organisation and wider health and social care system.

Hospital Managing Director, City and Weston: Professor Stuart Walker

Stuart is an experienced NHS chief medical officer and previous deputy chief executive and interim chief executive. He has a background in a broad range of senior leadership positions and, as a prior cardiologist of 18 years standing, significant senior clinical experience.

Before coming to UHBW as chief medical officer in February 2022, Stuart worked at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board as MD, Deputy CEO and then interim CEO. He has also held prior executive, and senior leadership, roles in the English NHS for example as MD at Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (TSFT), and chief medical officer at TSFT and Somerset Partnership Foundation Trust. He was awarded the title of honorary professor by Cardiff University in 2021, and as honorary visiting professor by University of the West of England Bristol in 2023.

Chief Finance and Estates Officer: Neil Kemsley

Neil has over 20 years' experience as a board director working across the provider, commissioning and regulatory sectors of the NHS. He trained and qualified at University Hospitals Bristol before leaving in 1998 to progress his career through the finance ranks at a number of trusts - University College London Hospitals, Kings College Hospital, Portsmouth Hospitals and University Hospitals Plymouth - before returning to Bristol on 1 July 2019.

Neil is a member of the HFMA Financial Recovery Board, Audit South West Consortium Board and is supporting the work of the Ockenden Review into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Chief Medical and Innovation Officer: Professor Tim Whittlestone

Tim is a urological cancer surgeon who trained in Cambridge, Oxford and Bristol. He was appointed a consultant in Bristol Royal Infirmary in 2001 and has held a number of senior clinical leadership roles prior to becoming chief medical officer at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) in 2021. He was chief medical officer for the South West Nightingale hospital and BNSSG vaccination services.

Tim is passionate about patient-led service transformation and was listed as one of the top 50 global healthcare innovators in 2022. In 2023 he led the clinically inspired strategy refresh, and more recently co-authored the Bristol Group Joint Clinical Strategy. He is the visiting professor of healthcare technology at the University of the West of England.

Chief Nursing and Improvement Officer: Professor Steve Hams MBE, MStJ

With over 30 years' experience in nursing, Steve began his career in coronary care before taking on senior leadership roles across the NHS, voluntary sector, and higher education. Most recently, Steve was chief nursing officer at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) where he has led professional nursing, midwifery and allied health leadership since March 2022.

Committed to safety and compassion and a champion of inclusion, quality improvement, and the power of professional and patient voice in shaping excellent care, Steve was admitted to The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in 2011 for his service to St John Ambulance, and he was awarded an MBE for services to nursing in the 2022 New Year Honours.

His particular areas of interest include compassionate leadership, community engagement, mental health, and equality. Steve is a visiting professor at the University of the West of England.

Chief People & Culture Officer (non-voting position): Jenny Lewis (FCIPD)

Jenny Lewis is an experienced HR and organisational development leader with a career spanning the NHS, local government, and the private sector. She brings a strong commitment to people, culture, and public service.

Before joining Bristol NHS Group, Jenny was director of HR & OD at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and head of HR for Hampshire Public Services, where she led people services for a workforce of 55,000 across Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Constabulary, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, and 500 schools. Her experience also includes working in organisational development for several global private sector organisations over two decades.

Jenny is passionate about creating inclusive, thriving workplaces. She believes that when colleagues feel supported, valued, and empowered, they deliver exceptional care and outcomes. Her focus includes advancing health equity, building partnerships across sectors, recruiting from local communities, and fostering cultures where wellbeing, development, and meaningful careers are at the heart of how teams work - where everyone feels they belong.

Formation Officer (non-voting position): Paula Clarke

Paula has over 15 years board level experience across integrated health and care organisations in England and Northern Ireland and a wealth of experience in leading strategy development and delivery through transformational change, partnership working, and continuous improvement.

Paula joined University Hospitals Bristol in 2016 and led the strategy and transformation portfolios, the first Acute Care Collaboration Strategy and the successful merger with Weston Area Health Trust.

Since 2022, Paula has provided executive leadership for implementing the Healthy Weston vision for Weston General Hospital as part of UHBW.

Chief Digital Information Officer (non-voting position): Neil Darvill

Neil has held board-level responsibility for Digital Information at both NBT and UHBW since June 2023. With over 30 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in healthcare environments, Neil is responsible for setting and driving forward digital strategy at both trusts. He is passionate about digital transformation and has significant experience in leading strategic organisational transformation and wider system leadership partnership initiatives.