Exemplar Health Care
Regional Director of Operations
King’s College Hospital, Jeddah
The Client
The Position
Chief Nursing Officer
Introduction
King’s College Hospital Jeddah is a new state-of-the-art private tertiary care facility in Saudi Arabia, developed in partnership with King’s College Hospital London. The hospital brings the clinical standards, governance, and operational expertise of the UK’s NHS into the Saudi market. As a flagship international project, King’s Jeddah is committed to delivering world-class care and clinical leadership in line with UK best practices.
01
The context
As the hospital approached full operational go-live, the executive team required a highly experienced Chief Nurse to lead clinical governance, patient safety, workforce development, and cultural transformation. The appointment was critical to embedding UK-standard nursing care in a complex international environment, with a multi-national workforce, diverse patient population, and evolving regulatory expectations. The Chief Nurse would sit on the hospital executive, reporting to the CEO and providing visible, strategic leadership across all clinical functions.
02
The solution
To meet this brief, Rinnova delivered a comprehensive international search campaign targeting high-calibre nursing leaders with UK, GCC, and global acute healthcare experience.
This included:
- Identifying UK-based Chief Nurses with strong NHS and private acute portfolios, as well as international leaders with prior GCC exposure
- Prioritising candidates with experience scaling services, building quality frameworks, and leading culturally diverse teams
- Managing end-to-end delivery, including relocation logistics, NMC/NHRA regulatory advice, and cultural onboarding
- Presenting a balanced shortlist to satisfy both clinical rigour and cross-cultural leadership priorities
03
The impact
The appointment provided King’s Jeddah with the experienced clinical leadership needed to embed a robust nursing framework at launch.
Specifically:
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They brought a depth of UK Chief Nurse and GCC experience, aligned with King’s London governance standards
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They have led the development of nurse leadership capability, introduced clinical quality metrics, and built a culture of visibility and accountability
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Their leadership has helped King’s Jeddah establish credibility with both local regulators and international stakeholders, supporting the successful transition from commissioning to operation
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