Imperial Health Charity Chief Executive to retire
Imperial Health Charity Chief Executive to retire
10 February 2025
Ian has led Imperial Health Charity since 2014, and has described the role as ‘the greatest privilege’ of his career.
Under his leadership, the charity – which supports the five hospitals of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust – has grown significantly in terms of size and ambition.
He played a critical role in leading the charity’s efforts to support the Trust throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and, as chairman of NHS Charities Together – the umbrella organisation representing over 230 local NHS charities in the UK – oversaw the successful Covid-19 Appeal, which raised more than £150 million.
In 2020 he was awarded an OBE for charitable services to the NHS.
On his departure, Ian Lush OBE said:
“After more than ten years in this wonderful job, it has not been an easy decision to retire, but I feel it is the right time for me, and – with a new Chairman, a strong Board of Trustees, and a great leadership team in place – the right time for the Charity as well.
“This role has been the greatest privilege of my long career; it has been a source of constant and considerable pride to know the difference we’ve been able to make for the staff and patients of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust over the last ten years. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the Trust and the Charity with someone new at the helm.”
Professor Tim Orchard, chief executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said:
“On behalf of everyone at the Trust, I would like to thank Ian for his excellent leadership of Imperial Health Charity over the past ten years. The Charity’s support – through fundraising, grants, volunteering and arts – has become increasingly important to our patients, staff and local communities.
"This is exemplified by the Charity’s amazing response during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the work since to recover and reset. Ian will leave the Charity in very good shape and we look forward to achieving even more through our partnership in the years to come. Ian won’t be leaving for a while and so we will save best wishes for his retirement for a later date!"
Dr Andreas Raffel is Chair of Trustees for Imperial Health Charity. He said:
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, and everyone at Imperial Health Charity, I want to say a huge thank you to Ian for his dedication and expert leadership of the charity over the last ten years, and to wish him the very best for his much-deserved retirement.
“Under his tenure the charity has gone from strength to strength, and is well set up for success under the leadership of a new Chief Executive.”
Ian joined the charity as Chief Executive in December 2014, having previously led the Architectural Heritage Fund for 11 years. Following an MA in music at the University of York, Ian started his career as a viola player with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, later moving into arts management, including as Marketing Director at the Barbican Centre, and Managing Director of the London Mozart Players.
Ian looks forward to spending more time with his family, including cavapoochon Toby, playing tennis and supporting his beloved Chelsea FC when he steps down in the summer.
