North East London Integrated Care System (NEL ICS) has appointed a Chief Executive Officer Designate.
Zina Etheridge will lead north east London’s health and care partnership, working with leaders from acute, community, mental health and ambulance trusts, local government, and community and voluntary organisations.
Her appointment follows a comprehensive national recruitment process led by NHS England, which has been taking place within integrated care systems across the country over the last few months.
Zina joins NEL ICS (North East London Health and Care Partnership) from the London Borough of Haringey where she has been Chief Executive since February 2017, and she has previously held senior roles in a number of government departments at a national and regional level.
She has also been the lead local authority chief executive for the North Central London ICS and, as chair of London Councils’ Chief Executives Network, she has coordinated many aspects of the local government response to Covid-19 across the capital.
She is due to take up her new role in early 2022.
Marie Gabriel, Chair of the North East London Integrated Care System and Chair Designate of the proposed North East London Integrated Care Board said: “I am really pleased to have appointed Zina to the role of chief executive officer. Alongside an extensive career in national and local government, she brings a wealth of experience of partnership working and improving outcomes for residents, which is essential in leading our integrated care system for north east London.
“More recently, Zina has also played a leading role in the coordination of the London local government response to Covid-19. I am looking forward to working closely with her and the wider team across the system to deliver meaningful improvements in health, wellbeing and equity for all the people of north east London.”
Zina Etheridge, Chief Executive Officer Designate of North East London Integrated Care Board said: “I am really excited to be taking up this role at such a pivotal point. North east London is an amazing place and I am looking forward to working with partners across the system, including communities, to improve the outcomes for all residents.
“The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the health inequalities suffered by many residents, but the fantastic collaborative working across health, local authority and voluntary and community sector partners over the last 18 months demonstrates the impact we can have when we all work together on a common goal.”
Sir David Sloman, Regional Director of the NHS in London, said: “On behalf of the NHS in London, I would like to personally congratulate Zina Etheridge on her appointment. Zina is an experienced leader with an extensive background in partnership working which is fundamental to joining up health and care services for the benefit of people across the capital.
“I look forward to working with Zina and our other Integrated Care Board CEOs, to improve care for Londoners, reduce health inequalities and make rapid progress on the ambitions set out in the London vision.”
Zina’s appointment comes as NHS, local councils and community groups in north east London formalise their strong history of partnership working across health and social care. This partnership – known as an Integrated Care System or ICS – aims to ensure that the local population of more than two million people receive the care they need in an efficient, effective and joined up way. For more information on NEL ICS, please visit this page of our website.
