New Chief Nursing Officer Brings Her Vision to Cleveland Clinic London

Cleveland Clinic London has announced the appointment of Tiina Thornton, MSc, BSN, BSc, RN, as its new Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). A respected leader with more than 25 years of experience in cardiothoracic nursing, education and professional practice, Thornton will oversee all aspects of nursing across the organization, guiding a growing team dedicated to delivering exceptional patient-centered care.

Thornton, who joined Cleveland Clinic London in 2019, played a pivotal role in the hospital’s early planning and activation stages by strategically leading the training of more than 1,200 caregivers across multiple sites. In her previous role as Director of Nursing Quality, Education, and Professional Practice, she helped shape the hospital’s nursing framework by establishing robust professional development programs, advancing shared governance and ensuring that the organization’s commitment to quality and safety remained at the forefront of care delivery.

“Tiina’s pragmatic and results-driven leadership has been a cornerstone of the success of the Nursing Institute in London,” says Robert Lorenz, MD, President of Cleveland Clinic London. “Her unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care and professional practice makes her the ideal leader to guide our nursing team into the future.”

A natural leader

Long before she assumed the role of CNO, Thornton’s leadership was already making a lasting impact. She partnered with philanthropy teams to launch student nurse scholarships and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) fellowship, championed initiatives to support nurse preceptorship and served in interim leadership roles across London’s Staffing Office, ICU, and Acute & Ambulatory Care departments.

“I’m incredibly proud of the skilled, dedicated nursing community we’ve built here and am honored to help lead it,” Thornton says. “When nurses are supported and inspired, patients experience the very best care, so my focus will be to empower our teams to grow through education, shared governance and innovation. Together, we’ll continue to raise the bar for clinical excellence and shape the future of nursing at Cleveland Clinic London.”

Thornton’s path to leadership began in South Africa, where she trained as an ambulance assistant before earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Jyväskylä Polytechnic School of Health and Social Care in Finland in 1999. Soon after, she relocated to the United Kingdom, where she began her nursing career at the Royal Free NHS Trust before pursuing her passion for cardiac care at the renowned Harley Street Clinic in London.

Thornton spearheaded numerous quality improvement projects at the Harley Street Clinic, led education and clinical practice teams and helped the clinic become the first hospital in the UK to earn an “Outstanding” rating in its 2016 Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

Thornton holds a master’s degree in advanced clinical healthcare with distinction from King’s College London and has completed professional training in PRINCE2 Project Management, Executive Nursing Leadership through the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and the Florence Nightingale Foundation Leadership Program.

Additionally, she is an active member of several professional networks, including the Florence Nightingale Foundation, Nursing & Midwifery Excellence UK, the London Simulation Network and the CNO (England) Policy and Research Networks. She also has a strategic partnership with the Jordanian Nursing Council as well as academic partnerships with London South Bank and City and Coventry Universities.

Looking to the future

As CNO, Thornton says she will continue to advance Cleveland Clinic London’s nursing strategy, focusing on workforce development, clinical innovation and the continued integration of evidence-based practice. Her leadership approach centers on collaboration, transparency and empowerment — a philosophy that aligns with Cleveland Clinic’s culture of putting patients first.

“Nursing leadership today is about creating the conditions where excellence can thrive,” Thornton explains. “That means fostering trust, promoting professional growth and ensuring every caregiver feels valued and equipped to deliver safe, compassionate care. Our mission is to make Cleveland Clinic London a place where nurses can truly excel – and where patients benefit from that collective strength.”