New CEO for LOCSU announced

LOCSU is pleased to announce the appointment of Janice Foster as LOCSU’s new Chief Executive Officer.

She will be replacing Richard Whittington.

Janice joins LOCSU from Cleveland Local Medical Committee (LMC) where she was chief executive.  An accomplished healthcare leader Janice brings to LOCSU a track record of guiding organisation restructure and driving service transformation to improve patient, provider, and commissioner experiences.

Under Janice’s leadership Cleveland LMC represented and protected the interests of more than 200 GPs, 68 practices and around 600,000 patients, establishing partnerships, stakeholder engagement and relationships at local, regional, and national levels with NHS/public bodies and private providers.

LOCSU CEO Janice Foster said:

“We are at an exciting time of change within the NHS with fantastic opportunities ahead for local optical committees as we look to the integration of high-quality primary eye care services within the wider health and social care sector.

“I am delighted to join the team at LOCSU and look forward to supporting the further development of local optical committees across the country, using the tremendous platform that is in place to build, together, the best possible experiences for staff and patients.”

LOCSU Chair Joy Tweed said:

“I warmly welcome Janice as the new CEO of LOCSU. She brings with her a depth of experience and understanding of primary care and membership organisations, which will help steer LOCSU in the next stage of its journey, supporting local optical committees and meeting the challenges/opportunities of the new NHS landscape.”

After achieving a B.A. Hons degree in fashion marketing from the University of Northumbria, Janice gained a wealth of business experience in business development and communications and is also a member of the board of trustees for the Tees Valley YMCA.

Though Janice loves travelling her roots remain in her hometown of Darlington with her partner and 2 children where she is an active member of the local running club. Sport has always been a passion, partaking and supporting, so working on the London 2012 Olympics was a career highlight. Janice also maintains her interest in fashion and the arts, particularly enjoying live music and theatre.

Janice will take up her new role in October in time to meet LOC representatives at this year’s NOC in Leeds.