Jonathan Higman

Jonathan Higman is a senior NHS leader with more than 25 years of experience across both provider and commissioning organisations. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the integrated care board cluster covering NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB, NHS Dorset ICB and NHS Somerset ICB, leading efforts to improve population health, strengthen integrated care, and deliver sustainable health services across the South West of England.  

Jonathan became Chief Executive of NHS Somerset when the Integrated Care Board was established in 2022. In this role, he has championed neighbourhood-based models of care, helping to shift services closer to people’s homes while maintaining financial balance and delivering key national NHS priorities. His leadership has focused on collaboration across health, care, community and voluntary sector partners to improve outcomes for local populations.  

Before joining the Integrated Care Board, Jonathan was Chief Executive of Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Having joined the Trust Board in 2009 and held several executive positions, including Director of Operations and Director of Strategic Development, he became Acting Chief Executive in 2017 and was appointed substantively in 2019. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in leading the organisation through the COVID pandemic and its merger with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, creating England’s first fully integrated foundation trust, bringing together acute, community and mental health services.  

A graduate of the University of Reading with a degree in Economics and Geography, Jonathan has worked in a variety of NHS leadership roles across the South West and South East of England. His career has included commissioning, service planning, operational management and strategic leadership, giving him extensive experience in leading organisational transformation and system-wide collaboration.