Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Foundation Trust appoints new Chief Executive

The Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Foundation Trust has appointed Aidan Thomas, currently the chief executive at West Essex PCT, to succeed Pat Holman when she retires in August after 33 years with the NHS.

Mr Thomas, who has worked in the NHS for more than 20 years, said: “I am very excited to be joining such a successful and well respected organisation. The opportunity to move to Norfolk fulfils a personal ambition to move back into the provision of mental health services.”

Mr Thomas was director of human resources and an executive director of Lambeth Community NHS Trust. In 1995 he joined Essex and Herts Community NHS Trust as director of operations and was appointed chief executive of Epping Forest PCT in April 2000.

Trust chair, Maggie Wheeler, stated: “Aidan was appointed from a very strong list of candidates, and we are delighted to have attracted such a high calibre experienced chief executive. Pat Holman is going to be a hard act to follow, but I am confident that Aidan will do a great job for us, bringing his experience both in mental health and as a commissioner.”

Mr Thomas will join the Trust at the end of the summer.