Vanguard Healthcare Solutions has appointed Rebecca Lythe as its new CEO.
Lythe joins the healthcare infrastructure provider after seven years with Specsavers Group, including more than four years as Managing Director of Newmedica, where she led the growth and development of the specialist eye-care provider.
During her time at Newmedica, Lythe oversaw the expansion of its national footprint and worked with NHS commissioners and healthcare partners to increase access to care.
She has also held senior roles focused on strategy, transformation, governance and operations at Specsavers and ASDA, following an earlier career with KPMG.
Lythe takes over at a time when NHS organisations are under pressure to increase clinical capacity while addressing ageing and outdated estates.
Vanguard provides mobile, demountable and modular healthcare facilities designed to provide additional capacity, maintain services during refurbishment and reconfiguration, and support the delivery of new clinical environments.
Its portfolio includes operating theatres, surgical hubs, endoscopy facilities, patient accommodation, diagnostic environments and decontamination units.
Lythe said: “Healthcare providers across the UK are facing the combined challenge of increasing demand, long waiting lists and infrastructure that in many cases needs significant investment and renewal.
“What attracted me to Vanguard is the opportunity to be part of the solution to help more patients. We have an experienced team, a strong track record and an ability to provide high-quality, low-carbon healthcare environments quickly and flexibly, and at lower cost than traditional builds.”
She added that her focus would be on maintaining clinical quality, strengthening partnerships and continuing to develop Vanguard’s offering in response to healthcare providers’ needs.
Dr Graham Rich, chair of Vanguard Healthcare Solutions, said Lythe brought “an exceptional combination of healthcare leadership, strategic capability and experience of growing high-quality clinical services”.
He added: “Vanguard has an important role to play in helping healthcare systems address capacity and infrastructure challenges, and I am delighted to welcome Rebecca to lead the business through its next phase of development.”
Lythe will also oversee Vanguard’s international healthcare activities through Q-bital Healthcare Solutions and the recently launched Vanguard Life Sciences division.
Vanguard Life Sciences applies the group’s modern methods of construction expertise to cleanroom, laboratory and containment environments for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and research organisations.
Lythe said there was “significant potential” beyond Vanguard’s established UK healthcare business, highlighting the continued development of Q-bital internationally and the expansion of Vanguard Life Sciences.
Lythe took up the CEO role on 1 September 2026.
