James Devine

Background

About James Devine

HR Magazine number one Most Influential HR Practitioner 2024 & HR Lifetime Achievement award 2025 I am a Partner at Korn Ferry, focusing on our healthcare practice, offering our clients the full range of Korn Ferry solutions. Previously, I was a Director & UK Lead for Health & Care Workforce at KPMG UK. With over 25 years of experience in the NHS, I have a deep understanding of the complex and dynamic issues facing the sector, as well as the opportunities and solutions to improve workforce performance, engagement, and wellbeing. I have a passion for improvement & innovation, leadership development and employee engagement, and the evidence-based link between an engaged and valued workforce and better patient outcomes. I have led large-scale workforce projects and complex ER matters in some of the most significant and challenged NHS organisations in the UK, such as South London Health Care, Medway, Barts Health, and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. I have also held senior executive roles as Chief Executive, Deputy CEO, and Chief People Officer, where I was responsible for driving culture change, financial improvement, capital development, staff engagement & morale and performance. I have previously been a Chartered Advisor with the Advisory Board, an international organisation that uses a combination of research, technology, and consulting to improve the performance of health care organisations and educational institutions. I haves also used my experience in both coaching and mentoring relationships, with HR professionals, and Board level executives to support career development, or challenging situations. In recognition of my achievements, I was awarded the 2019 Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) HR Director of the year accolade, and also led HR teams to national and regional success at HPMA and CIPD awards.