James succeeded Steve McManus as Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust in May 2026. He was previously Managing Director of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals. James is passionate about cross-system working and has previous combined acute hospital and system leadership roles. He has returned to the Royal Berks where he started his career as an NHS management trainee in 2004. James holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Leadership and Management.