Appointment of Non-executive Director nominated by the University of Oxford
07/08/2018
This article is more than five years old.
The University of Oxford's appointee to the Board of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Professor Sir John Bell, has resigned as a Non-executive Director of the Trust.
This follows his recent appointment as the non-executive chairman of a company which contracts with the Trust (and the University of Oxford) to develop a patient safety-related software system.
In line with the requirements of the Trust's Constitution and its Policy on Declarations of Interests, Sir John declared this appointment as a 'relevant and material interest', and as one giving rise to an 'indirect pecuniary interest' in the contract which the Trust holds with the company.
It is considered that Sir John's role in the company creates a potential conflict of interests for him. Even were he to be excluded from all specific discussion of the contract and related issues, there may be a perception that a conflict of interests could remain.
Sir John has therefore offered his resignation, and the Trust Chairman has accepted this with immediate effect, expressing the Trust's deep appreciation of his contribution to the Trust's governance over the last eight years.
Sir John's term of office was due to expire on 31 October 2018, and the Trust's Council of Governors has already approved the appointment of Professor Gavin Screaton (Head of Medical Sciences Division) to succeed Sir John.
It is hoped that Professor Screaton's appointment can be brought forward and will be effective from 1 September 2018, for a term of three years up to 31 August 2021.