CLCH appoints Chief Digital Officer

CLCH is pleased to announce that James Fleming has been appointed Chief Digital Officer.  

This is the first board-level role of its kind at the Trust and James will be responsible for leading digital transformation, data and technological innovation to support patients and staff. 

The appointment was made following a formal and open recruitment process led by the CLCH Board.  

James has extensive experience across health, life sciences and telecommunications. He was previously Chief Information Officer at the Francis Crick Institute, where he built one of the largest research supercomputing facilities in the UK. He has previously held leadership roles at BT and was responsible for the digital transformation of the UK’s full fibre broadband programme. 

In his role at CLCH, James will be responsible for leading the delivery of the Trust’s digital strategy to enable care closer to home, support integrated neighbourhood teams, and empower patients to take control of their health. He will also champion the adoption of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and automation, to improve staff and patient experience and productivity.  

James Fleming said:  

“I am delighted to be joining CLCH at such an exciting time. Community healthcare has a vital role to play in delivering the 10-Year Health Plan, and digital technology will be central to helping the Trust deliver more personalised, joined-up and proactive care. My focus will be on ensuring that digital technology makes life easier for patients and staff, supports our neighbourhood-based approach to care, and allows us to use data to improve outcomes for the communities we serve.” 

James Benson, Chief Executive Officer at CLCH, said:  

“I am delighted that James has been appointed as our Chief Digital Officer. He brings a wealth of experience across a range of sectors and will play a crucial role in shaping the future of neighbourhood health through digital innovation, data-driven insight and compassionate care.” 

Mark Friend, Chair-in-Common of CLCH, said: 

“Digital is fundamental to our ambition for CLCH — not simply to make our services more interoperable and efficient, but to transform how we deliver care and improve outcomes for the communities we serve. James’s appointment is an important step in developing an ambitious, joined-up approach to digital, working closely with our partners in the Collaborative and in neighbourhoods.” 

James will join the CLCH Board in November.