Jim Mackey returned to his substantive role as Chief Executive of the Trust in November 2017, a post he previously held for ten years.  He was welcomed back after completing a two year secondment in a national role as Chief Executive of the NHS Improvement.

Jim successfully oversaw the creation of NHS Improvement, an organisation that brought together the Regulators Monitor and the Trust Development Authority.  Responsible for overseeing NHS Trusts, NHS Improvement supports providers to ensure patients are given consistently safe, high quality compassionate care within local health systems that are financially sustainable.

Previous to his time at Northumbria Healthcare, Jim held a number of senior roles with the NHS, the Regional Office of the Department of Health in Northern and Yorkshire and, prior to that, worked in Local Government.

Jim received a Knighthood in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in January 2019.