NHS Devon appoints Acting Chief Executive and Accountable Officer

Dear colleagues, partners and stakeholders,

I am pleased to announce that Libby Ryan-Davies has been appointed as NHS Devon’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Accountable Officer (AO), effective from 1 February.

Libby will now take up the role on her return from holiday and until we appoint a Cluster CEO (interim or substantive, depending on the outcomes of recruitment that is currently underway) for NHS Devon and NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, which is expected to be from 1 April and is subject to NHS England approvals.

Having originally joined NHS Devon in August 2024 as a Transformation Director, Libby has held the Devon Deputy CEO role since April 2025.

During her time in Devon, Libby has led on a number of high-profile projects, including leading NHS Devon’s Health and Care Strategy, which set out a bold and necessary transformation to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the local health and care system.

Libby will continue to lead NHS Devon and work closely with Susan Bracefield, NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly’s Acting CEO/AO, on our plans for 2026/27 and ensuring we close out 2025/26 as expected. Both Susan and Libby will continue in these roles until the interim/substantive Cluster CEO starts (or the new Cluster Executive structure formally rolls out).

I am sure you will join me in congratulating Libby on her acting role, and I look forward to continuing to work with both Libby and Susan in these roles.

Kind regards,

John Govett

Chair of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and NHS Devon