Maria Kane OBE has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and will start in April 2021.
Bringing extensive experience of NHS leadership, she is currently Chief Executive of North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, where she has been in post since December 2017.
Maria previously worked between 2007 and 2017 as Chief Executive of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust. She also worked as Executive Director at North West London Strategic Health Authority between 2002 and 2006, being responsible for strategy, planning, corporate development, communications and engagement.
In 2019 Maria was made an OBE for services to health care leadership over two decades, particularly in North London. She has previously been a trustee of Open Mind, Umbrella Mental Health, Young Minds, as well as an adviser to the Lullaby Trust and a special adviser to the Care Quality Commission. She was also chair of governors of a primary school for ten years.
Maria said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed as the new chief executive at North Bristol NHS Trust, and looking forward to taking up the role next Spring.
“Although it will be a geographical move for me – I have been in north London for many years as my family has grown up – I am already aware that our local communities around North Mid and in North Bristol have a considerable amount in common, and I will bring to NBT my passion for using the profile and position which acute hospitals have as anchor organisations in their community to lead by example in transforming the health and care of the local population.
“I am firmly of the belief that we can only do that by working in genuine partnership with our local community, health and care partners, the voluntary sector, patients and their representatives, and of course, staff in all positions and professions, and I look forward to building strong relationships with you all, and putting our values at the heart of what we do and how we do it.”
NBT Chair Michele Romaine said: “I am delighted Maria is joining NBT as our Chief Executive.
“When I originally announced that I would be recruiting a new CEO, I said that they must share our commitment to compassionate, patient-centred care, and that they must take pride in being a leader in a joined-up, collaborative health and social care system.
“Staff also told me that they wanted someone who embraced diversity, was approachable, progressive, a good listener and who recognised the value of staff.
“I know Maria will bring all those qualities. Her experience and approach will be of great value in NBT but also the wider BNSSG Healthier Together Partnership.”
NBT’s existing Chief Executive Andrea Young is due to retire in December. Deputy Chief Executive Evelyn Barker will then take on the role of interim Chief Executive until Maria arrives.