Vitality has hired Dr Rishi Patel as clinical operations director from Bupa where he was head of health services proposition.
Patel (pictured) joined the leadership team within the health insurance business for Vitality, with responsibility for the end-to-end clinical operations function and a focus on clinical excellence and operational efficiency within the claims journey for Vitality members.
He joins from Bupa where he held a number of roles across UK and group functions, including clinical innovation lead, head of clinical transformation and head of health services proposition.
In these roles Patel helped develop multiple new products, propositions and healthcare pathways between insurance and provision businesses across the business, most recently leading the UK genomics programme at Bupa.
He also has experience of working as a public health doctor within the NHS and has worked globally in clinical and non-clinical healthcare roles across public, private and academic sectors.
VitalityHealth CEO Dr Arun Thiyagarajan welcomed Patel to the team, noting his extensive experience within the insurance industry, together with his clinical expertise, would play a pivotal role in developing new products and propositions.
Thiyagarajan joined from Bupa in January to take over as VitalityHealth CEO from the retiring Dr Keith Klintworth.
Patel added he was delighted to be joining the team.
