New Chief Executive Appointed

Following a competitive recruitment process, NHS Grampian today announced the appointment of Laura Skaife-Knight as its new chief executive. Laura will leave her current role as chief executive of NHS Orkney and take over from current interim chief executive, Dr Adam Coldwells, when he retires in the autumn.

Making the announcement, chair of NHS Grampian, Alison Evison said: “I am delighted to welcome Laura to NHS Grampian. Her 20 years’ experience in the NHS working at Board-level for some of England’s largest acute teaching hospitals as well as for NHS Orkney, a partner Board in the North of Scotland, and track record of delivering improvements to patients and staff experience as well as operational and financial performance, will be invaluable as we move forward.

“Laura joins us at a challenging time, but I know that as a leader and chief executive known for putting people first that she already recognises that NHS Grampian’s talented staff and proven ability to deliver the very best care, along with a commitment to working in partnership and collaboration locally, regionally and nationally, means we are well positioned to rise to the occasion and move forward positively, together.”

The appointment has been welcomed by Scotland’s health secretary Neil Gray who said: “I am pleased to welcome Laura Skaife-Knight to her new position as Chief Executive of NHS Grampian. Laura is bringing a wealth of experience to the role and I look forward to working with her.”

Speaking on her appointment, Laura Skaife-Knight said: “I look forward to joining NHS Grampian and leading the organisation through its next chapter, recognising the immediate challenges ahead, the potential for our future and what is possible if we work together when it comes to further improving care, services and experience for our patients, communities and staff.

“I have enjoyed working with Adam Coldwells, including through the North of Scotland Chief Executive Group and, recognising his upcoming retirement, would like to acknowledge the very significant contribution he has made to the NHS in Scotland both as interim chief executive for Grampian and in community and system-wide roles he has held over the last three decades.”

Biography: With over 20 years’ experience in the NHS, Laura is a highly-regarded leader with a track record of delivering at Board-level for over 15 years. Her experience ranges from some of England’s and Europe’s largest acute teaching hospitals to smaller, yet crucial, rural, remote and island Boards in both England and Scotland which are central to regional integrated care and sustainable services.

Laura joined NHS Orkney as chief executive in April 2023, bringing two decades of NHS experience, 13 of which were at Board-level, to the Health Board.

During her time at NHS Orkney, Laura has championed improvements spanning quality and safety, patient and staff experience, digital and financial as well as operational performance. She has also been at the forefront of the national reform and renewal agenda, which sets out how we will shape the future of our population’s health and care in Scotland, leading some of the vital work which was published by Scottish Government last week.

Between 2019 and 2023 Laura was deputy CEO at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust (QEH) and was as part of the executive team that led the Trust out of special measures to become an exemplar for sustainable change and continuous improvement in the NHS.

As a visible, compassionate leader who puts people first, Laura attributes her success in improving patient and staff experience to the openness and transparency which she brings to communications, partnership working and collaboration.

Prior to driving forward performance in the NHS, Laura worked as a Director of Communications and External Relations at Board-level in the East Midlands in England for 12 years and was considered a leader in her field nationally.