A new chair has been appointed for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and will start work on Thursday January 2nd 2020.
Professor Mike Thomas will become the new chair of the Trust, taking over from Ian Johnson, who stepped down from the post earlier this year.
Professor Thomas is currently visiting professor at the University of Chester and between 2015 and 2018 he was Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Organisational Leadership at the University of Central Lancashire.
He is also currently a non-executive director of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and through his career he has served as Chair, Trustee, Governor or Board Director on regional and national bodies concerned with higher education or healthcare.
Professor Thomas said: “I’ve heard of the Trust’s reputation as a friendly and welcoming place so I am looking forward to starting, meeting everyone and supporting the organisation in moving forward together.”
UHMBT Chief Executive Aaron Cummins said: “I really want to take the opportunity to congratulate Mike on his appointment and I’m looking forward to working with him and the Board over this next phase of our improvement journey.”
Colin Ranshaw, Head Governor, UHMBT, said: “The Council of Governors (CoG) was unanimous in appointing Mike as our Chairman. I am delighted to welcome Mike to our Trust and both the CoG and I are looking forward to working with him over the exciting and challenging times ahead of us.”