Richard is a chartered accountant and joined QVH from NHS South East Coast, the region's strategic health authority.

He was Director of Finance at the Royal West Sussex NHS Trust for three years until 2009 and was previously the Director of Finance at Mid Sussex Primary Care Trust. He joined the NHS from an international accountancy practice in 1992.

In addition to financial management, Richard and his team are responsible for the QVH's procurement and contracting, performance management, information and IT functions.