Angela Hillery, chief executive of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT), and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT), has been named as the number two chief executive in the NHS by Health Service Journal’s (HSJ) prestigious Top 50 rankings for 2025.
This marks Angela’s seventh consecutive appearance on the list and has now been placed in the top section five times and has previously topped the rankings.
In 2019 Angela became one of the first CEOs to lead two Trusts, which is now more common for other Trusts across the country, and established a Group model in 2021 to collaborate more and share learning to improve outcomes. LPT and NHFT are lead providers for regional CAMHS, mental health, adult eating disorder and learning disability and autism collaboratives. In addition they have a key role as part of the East Midlands Alliance for mental health and learning disabilities.
Angela Hillery said: “I’m delighted to be recognised once again through this ranking. It is due to the incredible dedication and hard work of the exceptional teams that are my privilege to work with and lead.
“We have recently launched a new Group vision, mission and strategy to guide us over the next five years. It will help us to maintain a strong and clear record for working proactively to improve, learn and share together with a focus on delivering compassionate care and wellbeing for all. We are committed to providing high quality services with a focus on continuous improvement, and in partnership with others across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and Northamptonshire.”
The HSJ Top 50 was launched in 2014 and is judged by different leading health service figures, each year. This year included NHS England executive director for urgent and emergency care Sarah-Jane Marsh, national director of patient safety Aidan Fowler, Health Services Safety Investigations Body CEO Rosie Benneyworth, NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor, and former CEO of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust Ann Marr.
The judges were asked to choose the top 50 based on three criteria: the performance of the organisation they lead, their contribution to the wider NHS, and the personal example they set. While their track record is considered, the judges were asked to focus on their likely impact in the next 12 months.
Angela was recently interviewed by Mathew Winn as part of a healthcare leadership podcast series. You can hear this podcast here: The episode can be listened to on the podcasts webpage, as well as on your usual podcast platforms.