Simplyhealth appoints Rita Clifton CBE as new Chair
Leading healthcare company Simplyhealth has appointed experienced board director Rita Clifton CBE as its new Chair. The appointment, which is subject to regulatory approval, will see Clifton take over from current Chair Mike Hall who has been a member of the Board since 2011.
Clifton will join in March 2025 to help steer the Simplyhealth Group, which consists of health plan provider Simplyhealth, and leading dental payment plan provider Denplan, in its mission to improve access to healthcare for all in the UK.
Clifton, who is also currently Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, has a background in brand and customer strategy as well as business and governance leadership on a number of high profile boards. Over the last 20 years she has built a Non-Executive portfolio career across a range of sectors including retail, healthcare, market research and financial services, as well as across different ownership models.
Clifton is also active across a number of not-for-profit organisations, particularly in the sustainability sector, and is a board mentor and advisor. She received a CBE in the New Year Honours list in 2014 and in 2019, she became a Visiting Fellow at Saïd Business School, Oxford University.
Clifton’s expertise will see her play a critical role in supporting Simplyhealth deliver its strategy as it works to help make healthcare simple, affordable and accessible. It’s never been more important in the midst of a workforce sickness epidemic, with 2.8 million off work on long-term sick. The work of market leader Denplan to provide dentists with the tools to help patients budget and spread the cost of treatments is also crucial with the current problems facing dental care.
I’m excited to take up the position of Chair of the Simplyhealth Group. Simplyhealth’s mission to provide access to healthcare for all in the UK has never been more important and I am looking forward to working with the Board and helping the team drive the strategy forward. The organisation’s unique history, purpose and ownership model, with its strong values, has also been a great attraction.
Rita Clifton CBE
I’m delighted to welcome Rita to Simplyhealth as our new Chair of the Board. Rita is deeply experienced in building high growth organisations as both an Executive and Chair. She is a gifted strategist and brand expert and has an excellent understanding of, and experience with, commercially focused product led organisations. Critically she also brings a fundamentally purpose driven value system which aligns strongly with Simplyhealth.
Rita’s extensive track record of success across a variety of market sectors makes her well placed to play a significant leadership role and help guide Simplyhealth forward as it works to improve the health of the nation. I also want to thank her predecessor, Mike Hall, for his leadership and service during his tenure as Chair and I look forward to continuing to work with Mike in a NED capacity for the foreseeable future.
Duane Lawrence, Senior Independent Director, who led the chair selection.
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