GOSH Charity welcomes first-ever Chief Technology Officer

GREAT Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity) has announced the appointment of Richard Grove as its first-ever Chief Technology Officer. 

Following a 20-year-long career in digital, AI and data, Richard’s newly created role as Chief Technology Officer will see him lead and drive GOSH Charity’s transformation under its technology strategy, contributing to the achievement of the charity’s ambitious goals and purpose to raise vital funds for seriously ill children and their families at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

The role will also see Richard join GOSH Charity’s senior leadership team under Chief Executive Louise Parkes, reflecting the charity’s increased focus on technology, data and AI as it embarks on developing its new organisational strategy.

In his new post, Richard will be responsible for identifying opportunities for technological advances – including exploring the potential of data and AI-enabled services – as well as leading the integration of emerging technologies to boost the charity’s productivity and output. He will oversee all matters relating to Digital, IT and Technology, reporting back to the charity board and colleagues.

Previous roles held by Richard have included early Government Digital Service, Chief Digital Officer at the University of London as well as a position as a senior digital leader working on the London 2012 Olympics.

Most recently Richard held Managing Director and Director posts at AI, data and digital consultancies, Pivotl Ltd and Caution Your Blast Ltd, with client work spanning the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office, Cabinet Office and IKEA, which led to recognition in the top 100 tech companies by Tussell. In 2024, he played a key role in the strategy and delivery of one of the first public-facing Large Language Model (LLM) tools in the UK public sector.

Richard Grove said:

“I am over the moon to be joining GOSH Charity, which I have long admired for the essential work it does to care for seriously ill children and their families. In this role, I am eager to harness the latest digital technology and data and explore how AI can further enable the charity to raise funds for GOSH’s most urgent needs. It’s a privilege to be joining the team at such a pivotal moment, with the charity in the midst of its biggest-ever fundraising appeal to help build the new, world-leading Children’s Cancer Centre at the hospital.

“Under brilliant leadership, and with the amazing efforts of colleagues, supporters and partners, the charity has gone from strength to strength in recent years. I look forward to seeing how we can do even more with digital technology as we go above and beyond for the children and families who come to GOSH every day for lifesaving treatment.”

GOSH Charity’s Chief Executive, Louise Parkes, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Richard on board as GOSH Charity’s first Chief Technology Officer. With an impressive background in digital transformation, Richard will play a crucial role in developing the charity’s ambitions in technology, data and AI as we work towards the creation of our new organisational strategy. From our Build it. Beat it. appeal to our refreshed brand identity, it is a really exciting time for GOSH Charity, and Richard’s passion and expertise will ensure we can continue on our mission to give seriously ill children the best chance, and childhood, possible.”