NHS Shared Business Services has appointed Harpreet Puri as Chief Growth Officer and Mark Simmons as Director of Innovation and Technology Services, as the organisation continues to expand its role in helping the NHS improve productivity, efficiency and patient outcomes.
The appointments add significant expertise in healthcare technology, consulting, innovation and digital transformation to the NHS SBS senior leadership team, supporting its mission to help NHS organisations free up more time and money for frontline care.
In his new role as Chief Growth Officer, Harpreet Puri will focus on driving growth across NHS SBS while helping NHS organisations harness technology, automation and modern shared services to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
With more than 27 years of experience in technology and consulting, Harpreet has held senior positions at major global system integrators including IBM, TCS, HP and HCLTech. He has spent more than a decade working with public sector organisations across the UK, leading large-scale digital transformation programmes within healthcare, central government, local authorities and critical national infrastructure projects.
Throughout his career, he has overseen complex transformation initiatives with budgets ranging from £10 million to £100 million. His work with NHS organisations has included AI, automation and IT modernisation projects that have delivered productivity gains, cost savings and improved experiences for patients and clinicians alike.
At NHS SBS, he will focus on advancing modern corporate services and supporting the safe adoption of AI across the health service, while working closely with public and private sector partners to support the ambitions outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan.
Harpreet Puri said:
“NHS SBS has a unique opportunity to help NHS organisations tackle major challenges through innovation, technology and smarter ways of working. I am excited to join an organisation with strong NHS roots and an ambitious growth agenda. I look forward to expanding our reach, strengthening customer partnerships and bringing new solutions to market that deliver measurable value.”
Joining as Director of Innovation and Technology Services, Mark Simmons brings more than 26 years of experience helping healthcare organisations use digital technology to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.
Mark has previously held senior leadership positions at IBM Consulting, Kainos and Boston Consulting Group, where he led NHS business development, digital health strategy programmes, major bids and account growth initiatives.
His focus at NHS SBS will be on developing innovative digital services that enable NHS organisations to maximise the value of technology, data and automation. He will also oversee the creation of new solutions designed to meet the changing needs of NHS customers.
Mark Simmons said:
“Technology, data and automation have a critical role in helping the NHS improve outcomes, productivity and the experience of staff and patients. I am delighted to join NHS SBS and look forward to working with colleagues, customers and partners to develop services that help organisations realise the full potential of digital transformation.”
Welcoming the appointments, Erika Bannerman, Managing Director of NHS Shared Business Services, said:
“Harpreet and Mark join NHS SBS at a pivotal point in our journey. Over the last five years, we have grown year on year, strengthening our position as a trusted partner to the NHS. That success has been built on the expertise, commitment and shared sense of purpose of our people, reflected in our recognition as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces and, most recently, one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Tech™.
“As the needs of the health service continue to evolve, we see significant opportunities to build on those strong foundations by developing new solutions and helping more organisations benefit from our expertise. Leveraging the unique strengths of our joint venture with Sopra Steria, we are well placed to combine deep NHS insight with leading digital, data and technology capabilities.
“Harpreet and Mark will play an important role in shaping our next phase of growth, working with our talented teams to turn customer insight and new ideas into practical solutions that deliver even greater value for the NHS.”
The appointments underline NHS SBS’s commitment to supporting digital transformation across the health service, enhancing efficiency and helping NHS organisations meet growing operational and financial challenges through innovation-led solutions.
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