Executive Directors

Nick Hulme has worked in the NHS and social care for more than 35 years. He has worked in operational management and leadership roles in large, complex London acute Trusts. His first management role was in sexual health services before being appointed to senior leadership roles in operational and general management.

Nick was appointed Chief Executive of Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust in January 2013 and in May 2016 also became Chief Executive of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust. Following successful joint working, the two trusts merged on 1 July 2018 to form East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, of which Nick is now Chief Executive.

The integrated acute and community trust runs Colchester Hospital, Ipswich Hospital, Aldeburgh Hospital, Felixstowe Hospital, Bluebird Lodge in Ipswich and community services at Clacton Hospital and Fryatt Hospital in Harwich.

Neill has worked in the NHS for over 20 years. He has extensive experience and expertise in operational management, planning and performance and  leadership in commissioning and information. Neill was Chief Operating Officer for The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, and then joint Managing Director for Ipswich and Colchester trusts before the organisations merged in July 2018.

Neill is passionate about high quality, safe, compassionate care.

Angela has been Medical Director at Colchester Hospital since 2015.

Angela trained at University College London and qualified in 1987. She first trained as a GP but then went on to complete paediatric training, starting as a consultant in Colchester in 2001.

Previous roles include Lead Clinician for Paediatric Oncology Services and from March 2011 – December 2013 Divisional Director for Women and Children’s Services. She is an instructor for national resuscitation council courses and supports life support training and the paediatric critical care group at the Trust.

Giles Thorpe joined ESNEFT as Chief Nurse from his role of Director of Clinical Quality and Deputy Chief Nurse at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Addenbrooke’s). He was previously Deputy Director of Nursing at Colchester Hospital and before that Deputy Director of Clinical Governance at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals. Giles has also held national roles at NHS Blood and Transplant and is a graduate of the Nye Bevan programme run by the NHS Leadership Academy.

Giles trained as a nurse nearly 20 years ago after working in the City of London.

Giles lives in Essex, almost exactly half way between Colchester and Ipswich hospitals, and is currently completing his professional doctorate in health at the University of Essex.

Adrian has worked in NHS finance for more than 30 years. His most recent role prior to ESNEFT was as director of operational finance for NHS England and NHS Improvement in the east of England. In previous roles Adrian has been director of finance for a number of Essex primary care trusts as well as working in acute trusts.

Dr Gordon is a clinician with over a decade of senior NHS management experience in transformational change, strategic and local commissioning and acute hospital leadership.

He is passionate about improving services through innovation, evidence based practice and the use of information to drive positive change. Dr Gordon is also Vice Chairman of the East of England Clinical Senate.

Mike has concentrated his career locally within the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Community for more than 28 years managing information technology services and the delivery of ICT transformation. During this time he has led the delivery of major infrastructure, corporate and clinical IT systems from procurement through to implementation.

Mike has responsibility for development  of the Trust’s ICT Strategy and supporting ICT programme delivery and support functions including the digitisation of Records Management.

Prior to taking up the Director of Information Communications and Technology post for the Trust he was Chief Information Officer at The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust and led the integration of ICT services for acute and community services.

Mike has responsibility on the Trust Board as the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO).The role of the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) was created to provide board-level accountability and greater assurance that information risks are addressed.

Paul comes to ESNEFT having been Director of Estates and Facilities at The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, which he joined in September 2015.

Paul is a Chartered Engineer, having extensive experience over the last 25 years within the Building Services and Facilities industry in both the public and private sectors, in the UK and European markets. Commencing his career in the NHS in 2002, Paul has held senior positions in four acute hospitals and joined the Trust from North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Paul is a Fellow of The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and a member of The Institute of Health Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM) and the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM). He is the immediate past Chairman of the Health Estates & Facilities Management Association (HEFMA) and sits on its National Council.

Rebecca is a highly skilled communications and engagement professional with more than 30 years’ experience of working in the NHS.

She began her career as an operational manager in the acute sector before leading a cancer network and working in commissioning and mental health services as a strategic communicator.

Kate previously worked at Health Education England, East of England, as Deputy Postgraduate Dean but also spent time at West Suffolk Hospital prior to being appointed to the role of Director of People and Organisational Development at ESNEFT.

A chartered secretary, Steve joined the NHS in 2008 following a range of company secretary roles in private sector organisations. After NHS roles in Birmingham, Essex and Greater Manchester, he has joined the Trust as Interim Director of Governance, with oversight of the Secretariat, Legal, Risk, Compliance and Information Governance functions.

Outside of the office, Steve is an active football referee with the Amateur Football Alliance, and also runs at and supports the governance of his local athletics club. He has previously held voluntary governance positions as a school governor, within higher education and for various football competitions. He is a Liveryman of the City of London

Alison was the Director of Operations at Colchester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust from January 2017. Prior to that, she was at The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust for 21 years where her last role was Deputy Chief Operating Officer.

Alison began her career as a newly qualified nurse over 30 years ago and has extensive expertise and experience in both Cancer Care and Medicine and Emergency Care. She has worked in both clinical and operational senior leadership roles and is currently the SRO for System Resilience as part of the North East Essex Health and Wellbeing Alliance.

Sarah joined ESNEFT on 28 June 2021.

Sarah has a strong background in senior operational leadership.  Her prior role was with NHS England/NHS Improvement where she was an Assistant Director for Suffolk and North East Essex at the region.

Paul was area director of adult and community services in Ipswich and east Suffolk for Suffolk County Council before being appointed to this innovative, new role for ESNEFT and Suffolk County Council.

Working to develop our Alliance approach in Suffolk, he will be seconded for 12 months and will report to Neill Moloney, Deputy Chief Executive for ESNEFT and to Sue Cook, Executive Director People Services, at Suffolk County Council.