NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHL Group) has confirmed the appointment of an Interim Chief Executive to lead the organisation while the recruitment process for a substantive Chief Executive continues.
The Group Board has agreed to appoint Professor David Loughton CBE as Interim Chief Executive. This follows the announcement in April 2026 that James Sumner will be stepping down from his role following four years as Chief Executive. David will start in mid-June and will have some handover time before James leaves on 30 June 2026.
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 1.1m 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.
Group Chair of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, David Flory, said: “The Board is pleased to appoint Professor Loughton as our Interim Chief Executive. His vast experience in financial recovery, workforce development, patient safety and operational improvement will ensure continuity, stability and strong leadership at an important stage in our Group’s development. We look forward to working with Professor Loughton to maintain momentum and continue to build on and drive forward our agreed multi‑year plans.”
Professor David Loughton CBE 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 performance and patient care.”
The recruitment process for UHL Group’s substantive Chief Executive is underway, and further updates will be shared as this progresses.