Vanguard Healthcare Solutions appoints new CEO

Chris Blackwell-Frost will succeed current CEO David Cole, who will step down from the role at the end of 2022, having marked 40 years working in the health and social care sector.

Chris will take up the position on 1 January 2023. A pharmacist by training, Chris has more than 25 years’ experience in strategy and business development, commercial, sales, marketing, mergers and acquisitions, and proposition development across the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.

He joined Nuffield Health in 2016, initially as Chief Customer Officer with responsibility for marketing, communications and brand alongside sales, commercial and proposition development. Since 2020, he has acted as Chief Strategy Officer at Nuffield with accountability for strategy, brand and corporate development in addition to property and the transformation office. He previously worked at Lloyds Pharmacy and AAH Pharmaceuticals.

David Cole said: “The Vanguard Group has grown substantially over the last few years and is currently on course for a fourth record year in a row. Under Chris’s leadership, the business will continue to further internationalise and diversify.

“Chris brings with him the energy, drive and experience to lead the organisation through that next phase of growth and change. I step away after nearly six years leading the company knowing that it has the right person at the helm.”

David Cole

Chris added: “I am delighted to join the company and am looking forward to working alongside the team as we continue to help our colleagues throughout the world increase access to healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes.

“The Vanguard Group has a justified reputation for its ability to create and rapidly deliver solutions which enable hospitals and health systems to provide increased capacity and essential surgical and diagnostic procedures in high quality clinical environments in the UK, Europe and Australia.”