Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria bids farewell to Chair following 10-year tenure

Dr Arnab Basu steps down as Board Chair for Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria (HI NENC), after completing a 10-year tenure.

Over the last decade, Kromek CEO Arnab has guided HI NENC from its inception in 2013 to where it is today as a leading authority on health innovation within the region.

As a prominent figure in the business community, Arnab has drawn on his experience leading a global technology company to provide unfaltering support and strategic direction to HI NENC as it navigated a continuously changing national and regional health and social care landscape.

During his time at the helm of the Board, he has overseen two re-license periods, the appointment of a new CEO, a global pandemic, and the renaming from Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria to HI NENC.

Arnab officially leaves the role of Chair today (18 December), handing over to the newly appointed Professor Dean Fathers.

Speaking of his time as HI NENC Chair, Arnab said: “It has been a privilege to Chair HI NENC for the last 10 years and to play a leading role in the incredible evolution of the organisation during this time.

“What started out as a small number of dedicated people in a room with big ideas of how to transform the health innovation space in the region, has now grown into a large team of passionate and experienced professionals who are delivering unrivalled support to innovators throughout the North East, North Cumbria, and beyond.

“I am proud to have been part of the entire journey. I have enjoyed working with Nicola, colleagues on the board and the executive  team, and I have no doubt that further great success is on the horizon for HI NENC.”

Dr Nicola Hutchinson, HI NENC Chief Executive Officer, said: “I can’t begin to thank Arnab enough for the time, insight, knowledge and invaluable leadership he has provided to me and HI NENC over the last 10 years.

“His business acumen is second-to-none and has helped guide us through some important milestones during his tenure. On behalf of the HI NENC team, past and present, I’d like to say a sincere thank you to Arnab for his incredible support and guidance.”