We are delighted to announce that Stephen Kirkham has been elected as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees of Cardiomyopathy UK, succeeding Rita Sutton, who has stepped down after five years of dedicated leadership.
Stephen is already a familiar face to many in our community, having served as Vice-Chair of the Board, led two Support Groups at various times and remains a member of another. He brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to the role.
Stephen had a distinguished career as an infantry officer in the British Army, including command of an infantry battalion and a final post as Commander of Old College at Sandhurst. Retraining for ministry in. the late 1980’s, he worked as a Vicar in Oxfordshire until he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and found it necessary to retire from ministry on medical grounds; he worked as a consultant in conflict resolution, leadership training and team building before moving to Scotland, Stephen underwent a lifesaving heart transplant at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Glasgow in 2015. Since then, he has become a passionate advocate for people living with cardiomyopathy and heart failure, contributing to the Scottish Heart Failure Hub and serving three years on the Scottish Organ Donation and Transplant Group.
Stephen is particularly committed to securing timely and accurate diagnosis for cardiomyopathy patients, and ensuring that best practice” is embedded in local care plans. He is also focused on developing CM UK’s work across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and has a strong interest in palliative care for advanced heart failure patients.
Speaking about his appointment, Stephen said: “It is a huge honour to be elected Chair of Cardiomyopathy UK. I know from personal experience the difference our charity makes to people’s lives, and I am determined to build on the strong foundations Rita and her predecessors have laid. There is still much to do before we can confidently say that everyone affected by cardiomyopathy can lead a long and fulfilling life, but that is very definitely our ambition, and what our volunteers, the Staff team and the Trustees are all striving for. Together, we can really make a difference for so many of who are impacted by a cardiomyopathy.
Stephen takes over from Rita Sutton who has given outstanding service as Chair since 2020 and as a Trustee for eight years in total. Rita’s commitment to Cardiomyopathy UK has been shaped by her own family experience. Her granddaughter Rosie was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy at the age of two, eventually receiving a heart transplant in 2016. Rita’s insight into the challenges families face has been central to her leadership.
Throughout her time as Chair, Rita has been a passionate advocate for patients and families. Many will remember her opening our National Conferences and writing introductions for My Life magazine, but her influence has gone far deeper. She has guided the charity with wisdom, empathy, and determination, even continuing to contribute from hospital during recent ill health. On behalf of the Board, staff, and the whole cardiomyopathy community, we offer Rita our heartfelt thanks for her years of commitment and leadership, and we send her our very best wishes for a return to full health.
Stephen added: “Rita has been an outstanding Chair, and it is a privilege to follow in her footsteps. She has led the charity with compassion and resilience, always putting patients and families at the heart of everything we do. We are all deeply grateful for her wisdom, her energy and her care, and I know her legacy will continue to shape Cardiomyopathy UK for years to come.”
Anna Tomlinson, Chief Executive of Cardiomyopathy UK, said:
“We are thrilled to welcome Stephen as our new Chair. His personal experience and leadership skills will be invaluable as we continue to expand our support for people living with cardiomyopathy and their families. At the same time, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Rita for her tireless commitment and the compassion she has brought to every aspect of her role. On behalf of the whole charity, I want to thank her warmly and wish her every strength for the future.”