Trust appoints new Chief People Officer

We are pleased to announce that Crystal Akass has been appointed as the new Chief People Officer at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Crystal is currently Chief People Officer at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, a post she has held since 2021.

Before joining the NHS, Crystal spent 18 years in the UK Civil Service, joining the Home Office from university and progressing through HR and organisational development roles both there and in the Ministry of Justice.

She went on to hold senior roles at the Cabinet Office as HR Director, and Director of People at the Department for Work and Pensions - one of the Government’s largest departments, employing 80,000 colleagues nationally.

Crystal said: “I am so proud to be joining Guy’s and St Thomas’ - a much admired and world-renowned organisation with a rich history and such ambition for healthcare excellence, innovation and transformation.

“I am really looking forward to meeting the brilliant people making this happen every day in the individual sites and services, and excited to become part of the team.”

Crystal will be joining the Trust on 5 August. She will succeed current Chief People Officer Julie Screaton, who is leaving the Trust after 7 years.

Professor Ian Abbs, Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Crystal to Guy’s and St Thomas’. Her skills and experience, both in the NHS and wider public services, will be vital as we continue to develop and support our diverse and talented staff.

“With one of the largest and most diverse workforces in the NHS, we are all too aware of the staffing challenges facing the NHS at the moment. But this also provides us with an opportunity to make a real difference in how we attract, retain and develop the best people so that we can provide the best possible care to patients.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Julie for her extraordinary leadership during her time at the Trust. Julie has always put the health and wellbeing of our people first, which has been crucial as we have responded to the challenges of the past few years.”