Zara Jones | Chief Executive Officer

Appointed: October 2026

Zara joined East Cheshire NHS Trust as Chief Executive in October 2026, bringing extensive experience of senior leadership across the NHS.

Having started her NHS career as a management trainee in 2003, Zara has been an Executive Director since 2016, holding leadership roles in both commissioning and provider organisations across the Midlands and South Yorkshire. Prior to joining East Cheshire, she was Acting Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where she led work to improve patient care, organisational performance, culture and long-term sustainability.

Zara is passionate about compassionate and inclusive leadership, creating environments where colleagues feel valued and empowered and ensuring patients receive safe, high-quality care. She is committed to working with colleagues, patients and partners to continually improve services for the communities the Trust serves.