Alder Hey appoints new chief executive after long-serving boss steps down

Liverpool’s world leading children’s hospital has named its new boss following the resignation of its long-serving chief executive. Last month, after 16 years at the helm, it was confirmed Louise Shepherd would step down from her role at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

The hospital, one of the biggest and busiest in Europe, has now confirmed Ms Shepherd’s deputy, John Grinnell, has been appointed to take on the role, having served as interim since her departure. Mr Grinnell joined the Trust in April 2017 as director of finance and deputy chief executive.

In April last year, he was appointed managing director and chief finance officer and will now take on full oversight of the sector leading location in West Derby. Dame Jo Williams, Chair of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I’m delighted to announce the appointment of John Grinnell as chief executive of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Trust.

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“John is already well known – and well respected – within Alder Hey, and our wider, local health economy, having played a leading role since joining us in April 2017. John’s expertise and experience of managing NHS finances is well recognised, but it is matched by his absolute commitment to ensuring children and young people have the best possible start to life.”

Mr Grinnell is already known to members of the community in West Derby, having issued an apology to activists for delays over the full return of Springfield Park. In 2015, the specialist children’s hospital opened its new healthcare campus on land within Springfield Park resulting in green space being lost in the community.

As part of a land exchange agreement with Liverpool Council made in 2012, Alder Hey is obligated to return 9.4 hectares of land back to council ownership but a deal has yet to be completed. In December 2022, Mr Grinnell issued a public apology for the ongoing delays to a packed meeting with an expectation all work would be completed by December last year.

It is now thought the park will be fully handed back by 2026. Reacting to his appointment, Mr Grinnell said: “It’s a deep honour to have been entrusted with the care of Alder Hey.

“It’s a responsibility I take very seriously because I recognise the important role that we, as part of a wider healthcare system, must play in addressing the health inequalities that exist in our City Region and beyond. Working alongside our brilliant people and partners, I am confident that we can make a difference.

“I want to pay homage to my predecessor, Louise Shepherd CBE, who, over the course of her 16 years, transformed Alder Hey into the state-of-the-art centre of paediatric healthcare and treatment that it is today. Louise’s compassionate leadership and laser focus on the needs of children and young people were, and continue to be, an inspiration to me.”