Nuffield Health announced the appointment of new chief executive Steve Gray yesterday, following the resignation of the charity sector’s highest earner, David Mobbs last week.
Gray's appointment followed a “worldwide search” for a new chief executive, according to the charity’s chair Russell Hardy.
“Steve was the outstanding candidate,” he said. “His strategic insights into the UK healthcare market combined with his vision for Nuffield Health over the next stage of its development were compelling.
"He has a proven track record of innovation and commercial success across a range of healthcare markets. Nuffield Health is in safe hands.”
Gray previously worked for Lloyds Pharmacy and Superdrug, and latterly as group international healthcare director for Superdrug’s parent company AS Watson.
"I'm excited to be given the chance to lead it at a time when both those things will feature ever higher in our national way of life,” Gray said. “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to build on David Mobbs' legacy at Nuffield Health as it is an organisation I have long respected and admired."
Mobbs earned between £780,000 and £790,000 last year, according to research by Charity Finance magazine. The figure is some £390,000 higher than the sector's second highest earning chief executive Paul Holdom at London Clinic Trustees.
Mobbs will step down at the end of the year, after 14 years in the role and Gray will replace him from 1 January 2016.
On Monday, Mobbs said the time was right for him to “step aside and explore new opportunities”.
"I am immensely proud of the achievements of everyone who has helped transform Nuffield Hospitals into Nuffield Health – to become a complete health and wellbeing business,” he said.
“I am pleased to be handing over a business that is in great shape – we are performing well, we are soundly financed and we have strong leadership at all levels. Our plans in Manchester, our desire to drive new Digital innovations, and the successes we have made to create joined-up-health will open up a myriad of new opportunities."
A spokeswoman for Nuffield Health said it was not yet clear what Gray's salary will be.
