Ade Odunlade appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ade Odunlade as the Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust following a robust and competitive process.
In the last two years as Chief Operating Officer, Ade has been instrumental in stabilising the Trust’s finances, transforming community care, and better supporting frontline staff—all amidst the complex challenges that the NHS faces at every level. As we look ahead to a critical period for our Trust, we can be confident that, under Ade’s leadership as Interim CEO, our focus, together with our partners, will remain firmly on delivering better mental health care for the people who rely on our services.
With over 30 years of experience in healthcare, Ade’s journey in mental health began working as a ward nurse on Eileen Skellern 2 at the Maudsley Hospital in 1993. Over the past three decades, Ade has worked across both public and private healthcare services, including in Clinical Leadership and CEO roles. He brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and unwavering focus on patient care that will benefit our communities.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust’s Chair Jane Bailey said:
“Since joining the Trust earlier this year, I’ve had the chance to work closely with Ade Odunlade, our Chief Operating Officer, and I have been impressed by his commitment to improving mental health care. With a compassionate and open leadership style, Ade brings people together to drive change – a quality that will be fundamental in his new role as Interim Chief Executive Officer. As our Trust navigates complex challenges, like the rest of the NHS, I’m confident Ade is the right person to steer our Trust in the right direction and ensure we deliver the best possible care for our patients in the coming months.”
Ade Odunlade, who will take on his new role from 1 December 2025 said:
“I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Interim CEO of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, an organisation where I began my career over 30 years ago. I look forward to working with my dedicated colleagues across the Trust to build on our achievements, continuing to improve mental health care for our communities, and ensure we support our patients, carers and staff."
David Bradley, outgoing CEO retires at the end of this month after 43 years of dedicated work in the NHS. Recruitment for a permanent CEO will commence in 2026.
