Former clinical commissioning group director, Richard Whittington has been appointed as the new chief operating officer of Local Optical Committee Support Unit (Locsu), taking the post with immediate effect.
The new chief operating officer role was created following the recent news that current managing director, Katrina Venerus, was to take a part-time role as clinical director to allow her to complete an MSc in Healthcare Leadership.
On the appointment, Locsu chairman Alan Tinger, said: ‘With his specialist knowledge of commissioning and service redesign, having worked at a senior level in NHS commissioning, Richard possesses the specific skills and practical experience that will help us make progress on our strategic aim to increase the pace and scale of eye health services and take out some of the strain on hospital capacity.
‘In the short time he has been with LOCSU he has shown that he is the ideal candidate to take the organisation forward and help us deliver the breakthrough strategy.
‘This really is great news for the sector and for patients who will see the benefits of more optical practices becoming the first port of call for all eye health matters.
‘Richard will benefit from the support of Katrina Venerus who has led Locsu magnificently in the past four years as MD. Her new role as Clinical Director means that Locsu has continuity and a formidable top team to drive progress and deliver success.’
