New Interim Chief Executive starts at UHL Group
We are delighted to welcome Professor David Loughton CBE as he joins NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group.
Professor Loughton is a highly experienced NHS Chief Executive Officer, bringing more than three decades of senior leadership experience across large and complex provider organisations. He served as Chief Executive of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust between 2004 and 2024, leading a major acute and teaching Trust serving a population of more than 1.1 million people across multiple hospital and community sites.
Between 2021 and 2024 he also served as Chief Executive of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, leading improvements in workforce stability, operational performance and urgent care delivery. Prior to this, he was Chief Executive of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust where he led significant organisational transformation, major service reconfiguration and the development of the organisation into a University Teaching Hospital.
Speaking about his appointment, Prof Loughton said: “I’m incredibly proud to be taking on this role at such an important time for UHL Group. I am committed to providing visible, values-led leadership that supports our teams, strengthens delivery and builds confidence across the organisation. Working closely with colleagues and partners, my focus will be on maintaining momentum and delivering meaningful, sustainable improvements in both patient care and performance.”
Professor Loughton joins as Interim Chief Executive following the departure of James Sumner, who announced in April 2026 that he would be stepping down from his role following four years as Chief Executive.
The recruitment process for UHL Group’s substantive Chief Executive is underway, and further updates will be shared as this progresses.