Rob is a strategic communications leader with over 20 years’ experience across a mix of organisations and sectors. He has been with RCPCH since 2019, most recently leading the College as interim Chief Executive, and now takes forward the permanent role.
Prior to this, he was Director of Membership, Policy & External Affairs at the College, where he oversaw the College’s teams covering membership, marketing, events, media, public affairs, policy, campaigning, digital and creative media.
Joanne Shaw, Chair of the Board of Trustees at RCPCH said:
Dr Camilla Kingdon, President of RCPCH said:
I have worked closely with Rob for the last two years and couldn’t be more delighted in his appointment as CEO. Rob has a formidable track record at the College and throughout his career, and I know he has the skills and personal qualities to achieve great things for our College. I am looking forward to working with him to ensure we continue to be a trusted voice for paediatricians and child health at home and abroad.
Robert Okunnu, CEO of RCPCH said:
It’s a great honour to have the opportunity to lead the College. In this current changing NHS landscape, there is a lot of work to be done, but we have a clear mission, vision and an exciting strategy to guide our activities. I look forward to continuing to work with the President, our Officers and the Board of Trustees in driving forward our national and international work to support paediatrics and child health.
Notes
- Rob Okunnu is a strategic communications leader with over 20 years’ experience across a mix of organisations and sectors. He has been with RCPCH since 2019. Most recently as interim Chief Executive Officer then as Director of Membership, Policy & External Affairs at the College. His extensive experience spans prior leadership roles in private and public sector organisations such as Water UK, Tesco PLC, the pharmaceutical company MSD, and the British Medical Association. Rob is a Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Chartered PR Practitioner. He is also a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Independent Schools Inspectorate.
- Rob Okunnu replaces Jo Revill who left RCPCH to pursue new ventures. Jo Revill was CEO and Company Secretary of the College from June 2018 until October 2022. In that time Jo led the College as a highly professional, well run membership body, supporting the field of paediatrics and child health across the UK and overseas. She leaves the College with an impressive record of success having overseen a period during which membership grew by more than 12 per cent, creating the foundations for long term financial sustainability and modernising our governance. With her senior communications and policy expertise, Jo worked with the Board and two Presidents as well as many other stakeholders to give the College a strong national profile and voice, positioning it to be influential and impactful on behalf of all those who work in paediatrics and child health.