New Trust Chair appointed

SUE SYMINGTON has been appointed as the new Chair of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Sue will succeed Alan Rose when he reaches the end of his term of office on 31 March 2015.

Sue’s appointment was made and confirmed by the Council of Governors at their meeting on 10 December 2014.

Sue has been a Non-executive Director and Vice Chairman of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust and is a Non-executive Director for the Beverley Building Society. She has been with the hospital since 2008 and the building society since 2013. Sue’s executive background is within the human resources arena where she was HR Director for Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate.

She has in the past developed her own businesses, including running a restaurant/hotel. More recently she has been undertaking a number key HR consultancy contracts in support of a number of private and public sector organisations.

Sue’s academic background is as a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and a Chartered Director with the Institute of Directors and she has this year been awarded Chartered Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors.

Sue said: “At Harrogate Trust I have developed a reputation for being the patients’ champion, and I will bring this patient-centered approach to my role as Chair at York Trust. York is a high performing Trust, and I am looking forward to playing my part in its ongoing and sustainable development for the benefit of the people it serves.”

Alan, who was a Non-executive Director at York Hospital for four years prior to becoming Chair in April 2010, has extensive management and operational experience in a variety of business organisations and markets, including regulated environments. He is a former partner at strategy consultants Booz Allen Hamilton, and previously worked for the Shell Oil Company.

Alan said: “I am delighted by the appointment and am confident that Sue will provide excellent leadership of the Board as the Trust continues to strive to provide good care in the very challenging healthcare environment it operates in.”

In April, Alan Rose will be taking up a new position as Chairman of Colchester Hospital University Foundation Trust.

23 January 2015