Trust announces Chief Executive Appointment
Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Partnership NHS Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Mel Coombes as its new Chief Executive. The appointment follows a competitive recruitment process with a strong field of candidates.
Mel who is currently the trusts Chief Nurse, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive will take up her position on 1 February 2021 when the current Chief Executive, Simon Gilby retires after five years at the helm.
As a registered nurse, Mel brings extensive Board level experience to the role and 36 years’ experience of working in the NHS. She also holds a number of national positions, which include Chair of the National Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Nurse Directors Forum.
She held the role of Director of Nursing, Quality, and Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust for seven years before joining the Trust in October 2019.
Chair of Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, Jagtar Singh, said, “On behalf of myself and the Board I would like to congratulate Mel on her appointment. She is the right person to lead Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust into the future and to build on the legacy of our departing Chief Executive, Simon.
He added, “Mel has demonstrated a clear focus on our service users, our values, co-production and partnership, alongside the skills and experience to lead us to be an outstanding provider of mental health, learning disability and community services delivering great care with our staff and ensuring we remain a respected and influential partner within the wider health and care environment.”
Mel said: “I am delighted to be taking up the position of Chief Executive at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust. I look forward to working with all staff, service users and partners to deliver the best possible mental health, learning disability and community services care for the communities we serve.”
Mel will commence her new role on 1 February 2021. For the next two months, she will continue in current her role as Chief Nurse, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive and work closely with the Chief Executive, Simon Gilby to manage the transition period.