"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."
- Duane Lawrence, Senior Independent Director at Simplyhealth
Rita Clifton CBE will succeed Mike Hall as Chair of Simplyhealth – he’s held the position since 2011. Subject to regulatory approval, Rita will join in March 2025 to help steer the group.
She is currently Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, with a background in brand and customer strategy as well as business and governance leadership on various high-profile boards. Over the last twenty years, Rita has built an impressive non-executive portfolio career across a range of sectors including retail, healthcare market research, and Financial Services.
Furthermore, she is active across multiple not-for-profit organisations, particularly in the sustainability sector. Rita received a CBE in the New Year Honours list in 2014, and in 2019 became a Visiting Fellow at Saïd Business School, Oxford University.
“Simplyhealth’s 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,” she said.
Duane Lawrence, Senior Independent Director at Simplyhealth, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Rita to Simplyhealth as our new Chair. 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.
“I’d also like to thank 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 (NED) capacity for the foreseeable future.”
