Ufonia strengthens leadership team with two senior appointments

AI-powered healthcare technology company Ufonia has appointed Richard Armitage as commercial director and Richard Whittington as UK partnerships director, as it looks to expand adoption of its autonomous clinical agents across the NHS and beyond.

Armitage (pictured) was previously NHS director at Optegra Eye Health Care, where he led efforts to standardise and scale services across the provider’s hospital network. He also oversaw the expansion of public sector partnerships, helping to grow referral volumes and introduce AI-driven automation to improve operational efficiency.

In his new role, he will lead Ufonia’s commercial strategy, with responsibility for sales, procurement and market expansion in both the UK and overseas.

Whittington joins from the Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU), where he was chief executive. He has spent 20 years working across NHS operational, commissioning and strategic roles and has particular experience in service design and contracting.

At Ufonia, he will focus on developing strategic partnerships with healthcare providers, influencing policy and supporting long-term adoption of the company’s technology.

Ufonia was founded by neurosurgeon Dr Nick de Pennington and uses voice-based autonomous agents to scalable, voice-based clinical conversations. The company works with NHS partners to reduce costs, improve access and alleviate clinician workload.

‘Appointing Richard Armitage and Richard Whittington brings a wealth of industry experience and leadership to Ufonia at a critical time in our growth,’ said de Pennington. ‘Their expertise in commercial strategy and NHS partnerships will be invaluable as we continue scaling our AI-powered solutions to improve patient outcomes and alleviate pressure on clinical teams.  Our technology can create a lasting impact across the healthcare sector and we are excited to see this grow.’