Deputy chief executive appointed to top job neighbouring trust

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust announced today that it has appointed Jinjer Kandola as its new chief executive.

She will replace Maria Kane, who left the trust after nine years at the helm to become chief executive of North Middlesex University Hospital Trust.

Ms Kandola, who is deputy chief executive and workforce director at Hertfordshire Partnership University Foundation Trust, will take up her new role in July.

She has a background in human resources management and became workforce director at Hertfordshire Partnership in 2010. She became deputy chief executive in December 2016.

Her successor and BEH, Ms Kane, was appointed chief executive at North Middlesex in December, becoming the first substantive holder of the position since Julie Lowe left in July 2016.

Her appointment was seen as another step towards the full integration of North Middlesex into the Royal Free London FT hospital chain, led by Sir David Sloman.

Mr Sloman took over as accountable officer at North Middlesex in September when acting chief executive Libby McManus, a former director at the Royal Free, stepped down under pressure from ministers and NHS Improvement over poor accident and emergency performance.

Ms Kane’s role at BEH has been filled on an interim basis by chief operating officer Andy Graham.

Ms Kandola said she was “delighted” to be joining the trust and added: “BEHMHT is already a strong organisation with outstanding services and great staff.

“I am looking forward to visiting services, meeting staff and hearing about what is great about BEHMHT.

“I am committed to working with staff to further improve what they do, helping to make services better for patients as well as staff.”