David Allen, OBE, appointed new Acting Chair

Published: 13 February 2014

South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Council of Governors has today confirmed the appointment of David Allen OBE as Vice-Chair. David immediately becomes Acting Chair pending the appointment of a Chair to replace Peter Hildrew who recently resigned.

Until April 2013, David was Registrar and Deputy Chief Executive of the University of Exeter and previously held similar appointments at Nottingham and Birmingham universities. He has over 30 years’ experience of working in partnership with the NHS and has been a Non-Executive Director at Torbay for nearly two years. He lives in Newton Abbot with his wife and three sons and has two daughters working in London.

Speaking of his appointment David said: “It is a great privilege to be asked to act as Chair of this Trust. Our superb staff work tirelessly for our patients and I am immensely proud of them. My priorities are our patients first and always, restoring the excellent reputation of the Trust and progressing our plans with Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust to integrate health and social care services for the benefit of the people of Torbay and Southern Devon. They deserve the very best care and that is what we work to deliver.”

Lead Governor, Anne Harvey, added: “We are delighted that David is taking up this appointment. He is well placed to lead the board with his wealth of experience, expertise and knowledge of our health community.”