People: Goodbye to an NHS Dame | Irwin Mitchell | rradar | and more

One of the longest standing Chairs in the NHS will be stepping down in Summer 2025. Damme Linda Pollard, Chair of Leeds Teaching Hospitals, joined the Trust in 2013, and has come to the end of her tenure in this role.

Dame Linda has given an impressive 30 years’ service to the NHS in a range of non-executive Chair roles across several NHS organisations in West Yorkshire, culminating at Leeds, one of the largest trusts in the country.

In 2020, she was recognised with damehood in the Queen’s honours for her services to healthcare, her contribution to the community and her tireless commitment to address the under representation of women in senior roles across corporate Britain and in public services.

At Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Dame Linda is credited with steering the organisation through an impressive turnaround. Under her leadership, the Trust has moved from Requires Improvement to a Good CQC rating, improved staff engagement to some of the highest levels and brought the Trust back into financial surplus. She is well known for her passionate belief in collaboration and partnership working and has played a pivotal role across the City, and wider region, in bringing together partners from health, care, government, academia, business and industry.

During her time at Leeds, Dame Linda has also led on many national projects including the Messenger and Pollard NHS Leadership Review alongside General Sir Gordon Messenger and the development of the Health and Care Hub in Leeds alongside Sir Chris Wormold, DHSC Permanent Secretary.

Commenting on this announcement, Dame Linda Pollard said: “I am extremely sorry to be leaving Leeds Teaching Hospitals. The last almost 12 years have been the highlight of my career. During this time, I have had the privilege of working with some amazingly talented colleagues at the Trust who are hugely inspiring and strive every day to do their best for our patients and their families. I have enjoyed every second of my time at the Trust and have made some great friends.

She continued: “The NHS is facing some of its toughest challenges yet, but I am hopeful that with clear focus from the new Government and the creation of the NHS Plan will bring about the new and innovative approaches needed to get the service back to where it needs to be.”

Linda’s exact departure date is yet to be confirmed but the Trust will begin a recruitment process for her replacement shortly.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell has announced that Paddy Sturman, a partner from its Leeds office, has been promoted to the position of National Head of Banking & Finance.

Paddy brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having been a pivotal force in growing Irwin Mitchell’s Banking & Finance team since joining firm in 2016 from Gordons. His expertise spans a broad spectrum of banking and debt finance transactions, with a particular focus on real estate finance, leveraged finance, and corporate banking transactions.

He is ranked as a ‘Leading Individual’ by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners and represents clients across the UK including HSBC UK Bank plc, National Westminster Bank plc, Lloyds Bank, Santander, ThinCats, Gravity Fitness, ICG Longbow, and Deutsche Hypo.

UK legal enterprise rradar is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Williams as Managing Director of its newly launched insurance vehicle, rrelentless.

Joining rrelentless, Matthew brings with him strong credentials as an insurance leader, previously serving as Chief Executive Officer of AMT Intermediaries, a holding company for Managing General Agencies (MGAs) owned by AmTrust International.

Prior to that role, Matthew spearheaded the development of AmTrust’s speciality legal expenses insurance division, expanding its footprint across the UK, Australia, Canada, and Scandinavia.

Matthew is also a qualified solicitor and most recently operated in the role of Executive Chair for Runnymede Law.

Evelyn Partners, the professional services and wealth management group, has appointed senior hire Vanessa Lee to its Northern private client tax team.

With more than 27 years experience, Vanessa has a focus on advising high net worth individuals, families, family offices and trustees on a wide range of complex tax and dispute planning. Hugely respected professionally, she has worked with both high-profile clients and those which are on a growth trajectory. Vanessa has previously held senior positions at leading professional services firms including BDO and EY.

Vanessa comes with a breadth of broader experience, voluntarily supporting Yorkshire Children’s Charity as a Trustee, a long-term supporter of Tax Aid and The Prince’s Trust and as Chair of Finance and Investment at The University of Hull.

Based in Evelyn’s Leeds office, Vanessa will also work with tax teams in Evelyn Partners’ Harrogate, Manchester and Newcastle offices on all aspects of private client tax and succession issues.

Derwent Training, based in Malton has appointed a new Chief Operating Officer with almost 20 years’ experience in learning and apprenticeships, as it continues to grow and support learners and employers from across the North.

Vicki Parker began her career as a tutor in 2007 and has held numerous roles including Apprenticeship Manager, Quality Manager, and most recently Head of Training Operations at a creative academy, so is well-placed to hit the ground running.

Derwent Training Association, which was founded 36 years ago, has earned an enviable reputation for its engineering apprenticeships – achieving a 98% employer satisfaction score (January 2023) and is rated ‘good’ by OFSTED.