Simplyhealth Group has appointed Rita Clifton CBE as chairperson.
Subject to regulatory approval, she will take over from current Mike Hall who has been a member of the board since 2011 in March 2025.
The group consists of health plan provider Simplyhealth, and dental payment plan provider Denplan.
Clifton, who is also currently deputy chairperson of the John Lewis Partnership, has a background in brand and customer strategy as well as business and governance leadership on a number of high-profile boards.
Over the last 20 years, she has built a non-executive portfolio career across a range of sectors including retail, healthcare, market research and financial services, as well as across different ownership models.
Clifton is also active across a number of not-for-profit organisations, particularly in the sustainability sector, and is a board mentor and adviser. She received a CBE in the New Year Honours list in 2014 and, in 2019, she became a visiting fellow at Saïd Business School, Oxford University.
Her expertise will see her play a critical role in supporting Simplyhealth deliver its strategy of aiming to make healthcare simple, affordable and accessible.
Clifton said: “I’m excited to take up the position of Chair of the Simplyhealth Group. Simplyhealth’s purpose to improve access to healthcare for all in the UK has never been more important and I am looking forward to working with the board and helping the team drive the strategy forward.
“The organisation’s unique history, purpose and ownership model, with its strong values, has also been a great attraction.”
Duane Lawrence, senior independent director, who led the selection, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Rita to Simplyhealth as our new chair of the board.
“Rita is deeply experienced in building high growth organisations as both an executive and chair. She is a gifted strategist and brand expert and has an excellent understanding of, and experience with, commercially focused product led organisations.
“Critically she also brings a fundamentally purpose driven value system which aligns strongly with Simplyhealth.
“Rita’s extensive track record of success across a variety of market sectors makes her well placed to play a significant leadership role and help guide Simplyhealth forward as it works to improve the health of the nation.
“I also want to thank her predecessor, Mike Hall, for his leadership and service during his tenure as chair and I look forward to continuing to work with Mike in a NED capacity for the foreseeable future.”