The interim chief executive of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health trust has left after less than three months in the job, HSJ has learned.

Martin Brown, who is an associate director at consultancy firm Mental Health Strategies and former head of health at the Audit Commission, was appointed after former chief executive John Newbury-Helps left the organisation in July.

Mr Brown had been expected to remain in post for six months until December when the trust had planned to appoint a new permanent chief executive (for more background, click here).

However, the trust issued a statement last week confirming that the trust had ‘agreed to part company’ with Mr Brown, although the organisation refused to give any further details about the reasons for his unexpected departure.

Mr Brown also declined to comment on why he was leaving the trust.

The trust has appointed Maria Kane, executive director of corporate development, as acting chief executive - its third leader in as many months.

The organisation has seen several senior staff leave ahead of a reorganisation of its executive board as it prepares for its application to become a foundation trust.

In September, nursing director Bernadette Hennigan left by ‘mutual agreement’ after three years in the job.

Last month human resources director Janet Lynch also left to become the new HR director at East and North Hertfordshire trust.

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey has not yet appointed a new HR director, while Ms Hennigan has been replaced by interim nursing director Paul Farrimond, from North Yorkshire and York primary care trust.

Deborah Cohen, director of mental health services for Haringey, left on 28 September.

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health trust is also recruiting a new medical director following Rosalind Furlong’s announcement that she will retire at the end of the year.

Trust chair Carl Lammy - brother of Tottenham MP David Lammy - has stayed in post.

A spokesman for NHS London said the departures were a ‘local issue’ and nothing to do with the strategic health authority.

He said: ‘Changes have been made because they wanted to have the right team in place to take them to foundation status.

‘All trusts in this position have to look at their management teams to make sure they have the right people with the right skill-mix.’

Topics