Simplyhealth Group has appointed Rita Clifton CBE to be its new chair.
She will take on the role from from March 2025, replacing current chair Mike Hall, who has been a board member since 2011.
Clifton is currently deputy chair of the John Lewis Partnership and has built up a non-executive portfolio career over the past two decades. She has a background in brand and customer strategy, as well as business and governance leadership on a number of high-profile boards across different ownership models in sectors including retail, healthcare, market research and financial services.
Clifton is involved with 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.
Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I’m excited to take up the position of chair of the Simplyhealth Group. Its purpose to improve 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.”
Duane Lawrence, senior independent director, who led the chair selection, said: “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 non-executive director capacity for the foreseeable future.”
