Dr James Kent, CEO of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board is to take up a secondment to NHS England’s (NHSE) strategy directorate. 

Dr Kent has led the establishment of the Integrated Care Board (ICB) across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West following his appointment as Integrated Care System Lead in 2020 and then Chief Executive Officer of the ICB in 2021 and joint working across system partners has transformed over the last two years.

Drawing on his experience as an ICB CEO and health adviser to the Prime Minister, Dr Kent will take up a secondment to the end of 2023 as an adviser to Chris Hopson, NHSE Chief Strategy Officer and the NHS Strategy Directorate, working on a range of strategy, policy and strategic communications projects.

The ICB Chief Medical Officer Dr Rachael De Caux will act up at the CEO in the short term from 26 September 2022.  An interim replacement will be confirmed imminently.

Chair of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB Javed Khan OBE said:

“Under James’ leadership, we have successfully set up the Integrated Care Board for Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West and have laid the foundations for genuine partnership working across our system. I want to thank him for his determination and hard work which has brought us so far. I wish him every success in his new role at NHS England.

“I am pleased our Chief Medical Officer Dr Rachael De Caux has agreed to act as our Chief Executive in the short term. I expect to be able to confirm the appointment of an interim chief executive very soon.”