Greater London, England, United Kingdom, September 2025 – Newcross Healthcare Solutions has appointed James Bland as its new Chief People Officer. In this leadership role, Bland will oversee the company’s people strategy, organisational culture, and talent development as the organisation continues its mission to blend human care with advanced technology to deliver the right care, at the right place, at the right time.
Bland has been with Newcross Healthcare Solutions since 2022, most recently serving as Director of People for nearly three years. In this capacity, he led critical people initiatives, modernised HR frameworks, and supported the company’s ambitious growth and digital transformation agenda, ensuring employees were empowered to deliver exceptional care outcomes.
Before joining Newcross, Bland spent over five years at Connells Group in Milton Keynes. He first served as Head of HR and later as HR Operations Director, where he focused on developing HR operations, driving organisational change, and strengthening workforce engagement across the group’s large-scale operations.
Earlier, Bland held the role of Head of HR at Santander UK, where he provided leadership on workforce strategy and employee relations. Prior to this, he was with Carphone Warehouse (now Currys plc) for nearly five years, serving first as ER Specialist, then ER Manager, and later as Senior HR Business Partner, supporting the company through periods of growth and organisational transformation.
His career also includes experience as HR Business Partner at Pret A Manger, Area HR Manager and HR Manager at Primark, and six years at Sainsbury’s, where he advanced from Assistant Customer Service Manager to Assistant HR Manager, gaining strong foundations in retail operations and people leadership. This broad-based HR career spanning retail, banking, and healthcare showcases his ability to adapt and lead across industries.
About Newcross Healthcare Solutions
Newcross Healthcare Solutions is one of the UK’s leading healthcare workforce providers, with 165,000 registered healthcare professionals, more than 4,000 clients, and 8 million hours of care delivered in 2023. Established nearly three decades ago, Newcross has evolved into a technology-powered care provider, combining digital innovation with the human touch.
The company is on a mission to become the world’s largest healthcare resource platform. By continuing to innovate and deliver flexible staffing solutions tailored to client needs, Newcross ensures continuity of care for those who need it most. With its ambitious roadmap, Newcross is dedicated to delivering personalised care, driving better outcomes, and redefining healthcare workforce solutions in the UK and beyond.
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