London Ambulance Service Chief Executive named in prestigious HSJ Top 50 leaders list

The Chief Executive of London Ambulance Service has been named in the Health Service Journal’s Top 50 NHS leaders list.

Jason Killens KAM has been in post for less than a year and has already secured a spot in the prestigious list, placing him among the most influential figures in the health service nationally.

Jason said: “It’s an honour to be recognised in this list alongside so many outstanding NHS leaders. I see it as a reflection of the incredible teams I have the privilege to work with and lead.

“I started my career as a volunteer and joined London Ambulance Service more than 30 years ago. I remain as passionate today about delivering the best possible care for patients and supporting the people who make that happen every day.

“In today’s NHS, that also means focusing on delivering safe, high-quality services in a system that is under increasing pressure and demand, and making sure patients get the right care in the right place at the right time.”

Jason is also Chair of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) where he represents ambulance services nationally and plays a central role in shaping the future direction of emergency and urgent care.

His appointment to the HSJ Top 50 list comes at a time when he is increasingly being seen as a leading voice on the need for rethinking how ambulance services are delivered and measured.

He has already overseen improvements at London Ambulance Service – with ambulance crews achieving some of the fastest response times in five years.

But Jason is keen that the drive to meet response times does not come at the expense of patient care or clinical decision-making.

As the most senior ambulance figure in the country, he has consistently argued that ambulance services need to move beyond traditional performance targets.

He has called for a stronger focus on patient outcomes and how well patients are treated, as ambulance teams are increasingly caring for people with more complex health, mental health and social care needs.

He has also been a high-profile advocate for his workforce, including on issues of violence and aggression, highlighting the pressures faced by frontline crews and call handlers and the importance of improving safety.

Jason’s leadership has been recognised at the highest level, including the King’s Ambulance Service Medal in the 2023 Birthday Honours List, and his role as an Honorary Professor at Swansea University.

Four out of 10 ambulance trust CEOs are included in the top 50 this year, reflecting a sector that has recovered strongly from the pressures of the pandemic period. The HSJ judges assessed leaders on the performance of their organisations; contribution to the wider NHS; the personal example set; and the likely impact they will have over the coming year.