New Chair appointed for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
22 July 2025
New Chair appointed for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Mahmud Nawaz has been appointed as the new Chair for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust taking over from Annette Laban who is retiring after four and a half years as Chair of what is one of the largest Trusts in the NHS. Prior to that she also served for 8 years as a Non-Executive Director.
Mahmud has been Chair of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust since February 2024. Previously, Mahmud has had a 20-year career in financial services with Lloyds Banking Group and has also been a Non-Executive Director at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, and brings varied and rich experience from the public, private and third sectors. Mahmud is also a passionate supporter of organ donation.
He has been recognised by his peers as one of 75 national ethnic minority health leaders by both the Seacole Group (BAME NHS Non-Executive Directors Group) and APNA NHS (South Asian NHS Leaders Network), and most recently he has been named as one of the Top 50 Influential Muslims in Europe by Equality X.
Kirsten Major, Chief Executive, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:
“I am delighted at Mahmud’s appointment as it is clear that his values and commitment to the NHS align with our own Proud values and ambitions. We have been fortunate to have had exemplary Board leadership with Annette Laban as our Chair for the past four and a half years and she retires leaving us with a solid foundation on which I know Mahmud is keen to build."
Mahmud said:
"I am delighted to have been appointed to the role of Chair of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to join such a fantastic team working across five hospitals and the City’s community health services. I am passionate about improving healthcare services as well as working with partners to improve the general health and wellbeing of our local communities - especially as we look to collectively tackle the inequalities that we know exist. I am looking forward to supporting colleagues to be able to deliver safe high quality, effective, healthcare for all our patients but also to ensure we foster teaching, research, innovation and partnership which will be essential as we embark on delivering the new NHS 10 year plan and our own STHCare2035 ambitions.”
Steve Barks, Lead Governor at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust added:
"The Governors were extremely pleased to have appointed someone of Mahmud’s calibre to lead the Trust through the next four years, particularly as we know we have a significant period of change ahead."
Mahmud will take up post on 1st October 2025.
For more information about this media release please contact Julie Phelan, Communications, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on Julie.phelan5@nhs.net
