Health Innovation Manchester (HInM) has appointed Steve Oldfield CB as its Deputy Chair, a new appointment for the organisation as it looks to strengthen leadership, particularly in its commercial outlook and global influence.

Steve has served as non-executive director at HInM since February 2023 and has vast international leadership experience across the private and public sector, in healthcare and life sciences.

He was appointed Chief Commercial Officer and Director General for Life Sciences at the Department of Health and Social Care in 2017, where he worked at the centre of healthcare policy and operations throughout Brexit and COVID-19. Steve was awarded a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 2021 in recognition of his work on the COVID 19 response.

Steve was formerly Chief Operating Officer for PGT Healthcare, a consumer-health joint venture between Procter & Gamble and Teva, and UK Managing Director for the Sanofi Group. He has strong record of delivery against ambitious targets and has successfully led major organisation transformation initiatives.

Commenting on his appointment, Steve said: “I’m honoured to take on the role of Deputy Chair at Health Innovation Manchester at such a pivotal time. The organisation is uniquely positioned to drive forward innovation that improves lives, transforms care, and strengthens the economy. I look forward to working with our Board to further harness commercial insight and global collaboration, accelerating the adoption of innovation for our 2.8m citizens”.

Publicly announcing the appointment ahead of HInM’s Board meeting on 9 September, Chair, Prof. Mark Britnell, said “At Health Innovation Manchester, our ambition to transform lives through innovation is matched by the calibre of people we attract to help deliver it. The appointment of leaders like Steve Oldfield reflects the strength of our vision and the growing recognition of Greater Manchester as a global hub for healthcare innovation”.

HInM is a place-based innovation organisation, formed by the health, care, civic and academic leaders of Greater Manchester (GM), with a vision to be world leading in improving the lives of local people, transforming care and boosting the economy through innovation.

Some of HInM’s most notable work includes joining up health and care information via the GM Care Record for all 2.8m citizens; leading the development of the GM secure data environment for research; securing £15m in Innovate UK and industry funding for programmes in advanced diagnostics and genomics; and deploying novel industry-led therapies at scale to effectively treat high cholesterol in at risk groups.

Ben Bridgewater, Chief Executive at HInM said “Steve brings invaluable experience from his background in industry and national government. Coupled with the strength of the rest of our Board, Steve as Deputy Chair will enhance our ability to deliver major impact for the benefit of Greater Manchester”.

Find out more about our Board at: https://healthinnovationmanchester.com/our-board/