New Chief Executive Officer announced for Velindre University NHS Trust

13 September 2024

Velindre University NHS Trust is delighted to announce that Mr David Donegan has been appointed as our new substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

David is currently the CEO of Cork University Hospitals Group, which includes the largest tertiary teaching hospital in the Irish Health System (CUH), a number of district general hospitals and a range of community clinics and facilities. David has successfully delivered improved clinical and operational performance, infrastructure, governance and leadership at CUH Group and has also led on the delivery of a number of national programmes in the south west of Ireland, including the National Trauma Strategy and the National Cancer Control Programme.

While originally from Ireland, he has spent most of his career in the NHS, including over a decade in board level positions in strategic health authorities, acute hospitals, and ambulance services in England. He has also worked as the Interim Director of Secondary Care for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in Wales.

David is a clinician by background and is a passionate advocate of clinical leadership and advanced practice. He has a number of degrees, including an Executive MBA from Warwick Business School and is a graduate of the NHS Leadership Academy and UCL Senior Leaders Programme.

David is married to Nuala, who was born in Birmingham, and is a Director at Kantar Worldpanel.

Trust Chair, Professor Donna Mead OBE said "We are delighted that David has agreed to join us at Velindre after a robust and highly competitive recruitment process. He has a passion and ambition for Velindre and he connects strongly with our mission of being world class in our clinical and academic endeavours. David brings with him a wealth of relevant international experience in both blood and cancer services and we all look forward to welcoming him to the Trust.”

David Donegan said "I am honoured to have been chosen to lead the team at Velindre and excited to support our team to realise their full potential and deliver on our ambitious and shared vision for the future. When I visited the Welsh Blood Service recently, the warm welcome I received reminded me of my teenage years when I worked as a volunteer with the Red Cross supporting donors and staff with collections. When I visited the Velindre Cancer Centre and was taken through the designs for the new VCC, I got a real sense of the important outcomes we will deliver for the people of south east Wales over the next 5-10 years. I really look forward to meeting with staff, donors, patients and partners over the coming months."

David hopes to join the Trust by the start of December.