Penny Emerit

Penny is the chief executive officer of Portsmouth Hospitals University (PHU) NHS Trust and the Isle of Wight NHS Trust (IWT). Penny joined PHU in January 2018, becoming chief executive officer in March 2021. She subsequently took on the role for IWT as well in June 2023. Penny is an experienced and highly capable NHS leader.

Penny joined Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust in January 2018 as director of strategy and performance and later added the deputy chief executive portfolio to her responsibilities prior to taking on the chief executive officer role. As chief executive officer, Penny led Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust to a second CQC ‘Good’ rating in July 2022 following a well-led inspection and core service inspection of medicine and urgent care services. She also led the development of the trust’s ‘Working Together’ strategy.

Penny has many years of experience in healthcare at national, regional and local levels, covering policy, regulation and service delivery, with a credible track record of delivery across the NHS in London and the South. Her expertise in strategy development and implementation, alongside regulation and performance improvement, drives her passion and commitment to delivering sustainable improvement for the benefit of patients, communities and staff.

Finally, Penny is a member of our Acute Network advisory board.