Not-for-profit healthcare provider Nuffield Health has appointed Erwan Ruiz as strategic client director, responsible for developing relationships with existing Nuffield Health Private Medical Insurance partners. 

Ruiz will manage Nuffield’s commercial relationship with Aviva as well as other key partnerships, and maximise the group’s connected health offering to clients.

In 2005, Ruiz started his career with Denplan. His role spanned dentistry, employee benefits and insurance and while there he developed the employee cash plan business. Seeing an opportunity to innovate the health insurance space, Ruiz launched a start-up that automates paperless claims for dental plans. 

Ruiz joined independent provider BMI Healthcare as commercial relations manager in 2014 before moving to Spire Healthcare in 2017 where he was senior commercial manager, working with all the major insurers, negotiating and restructuring long-term contracts in both roles.

Ruiz said: “Insurers represent a significant portion of spend with the private operators and whilst PMI spend remains flat, I believe our industry is converging with greater focus on our mutual customer. 

“I think part of being truly customer centric means forging meaningful partnerships with insurers to help drive innovation. Nuffield Health shares this view and that’s why I’m excited to be joining the team.”

Jenni Wilson, corporate partnerships and sales director of Nuffield Health, added: “It’s great to welcome Erwan into the organisation. He brings with him not only a wealth of knowledge and experience, but a passion and understanding of the healthcare industry.”