[U]niversity Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust has announced that Ian Johnson will be joining the Trust as its new Chair.
Ian is the current Chair of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – a post he has held since April 2012.
Ian has wide commercial, management and board level experience both in the UK and internationally.
A qualified solicitor, Ian has more than 30 years’ experience in the legal profession and has worked at a number of prestigious international law firms and FTSE 100 companies.
Ian is also on the Council at Lancaster University and Chair of the University’s Health Innovation Campus Development Board.
It is expected that Ian will join the Trust as Chair in March/April 2018.
Ian Johnson, said: “I am delighted to have been appointed Chair of the Trust. As someone who was born and brought up in this area, I know the importance of the Trust to the communities it serves.
“I have a strong commitment to the NHS and am very fortunate to be following on from Pearse, who with Dame Jackie, will leave behind a great legacy in transforming the Trust into a high performing organisation.
“There is much still to be done as we work with our colleagues in Bay Health and Care Partners to create healthier communities and provide safe and high quality care within our hospitals.
“I would like to thank the Trust’s Governors for their confidence in me and I look forward to working with them, staff across the Trust and Board colleagues to meet the expectations of our population.”
Dame Jackie Daniel, Chief Executive, UHMBT, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ian to the Trust. Although I will leave the Trust shortly, I am looking forward to working with Ian as we continue the work of integrating local community services for the benefit of patients. It really is a great place to work and I am confident that Ian will receive as warm a welcome as I did when I joined The Trust.”
On outgoing Chair, Pearse Butler, Dame Jackie, said: “I am incredibly grateful for the support Pearse has given me and the team during his time with the Trust. Pearse has been a great leader supporting our drive to continually improve standards of care for patients and has steered the Trust through some incredibly difficult and challenging times. I wish Pearse the very best for the future.”
Colin Ranshaw, Head Governor, UHMBT said: “The Council of Governors (CoG), who represent their local communities, was delighted to appoint Ian Johnson as the next Chair of UHMBT. Pearse Butler has been incredible over the three plus years of his term of office, and Ian’s qualities and experience will allow him to build on that success and take the Trust and the local health and social care system to the next level.
“The CoG is looking forward to welcoming Ian, and we can be confident that with his appointment, we will continue to support and work together positively and constructively with our patients and the public for the benefit of our communities.”