The Department of Health has recruited nine directors to the independent property company it is setting up to manage NHS estate, all of whom are currently working in the NHS.

The appointments to NHS Property Services Ltd were announced today.

Simon Holden, currently finance director for NHS Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral primary care trust cluster, will become chief executive.

NHS South of England strategic health authority non executive director Charles Howeson has been confirmed as the property company’s non-executive chairman. Of today’s appointees, he has the most commercial sector experience. He chairs the board of property investment firm Rowe Group and serves as the regional chair for the south west of financial services firm Coutts and Co.

The organisation’s four regional directors will be:

  • James Wakeham (South region);
  • Tony Griffiths (London region);
  • Martin Royal (Midlands and East region);
  • Kathryn Berry(North region).

Mr Wakeham is currently head of estates at the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT cluster, while Mr Royal joins the property company from NHS Suffolk, where has worked as director of business development and external relations.

Mr Griffiths is head of strategic asset management at NHS South West London. Ms Berry is associate director for capital, investment and private finance initiatives at NHS North West, and has worked in the NHS and in councils since 1981.

The other appointments, all made on secondment, announced today are:

  • Caroline Rassell, (finance director);
  • Pam Chapman (director of asset management);
  • Alan Farmer (head of human resources).

Ms Rassell is currently on secondment to the NHS Midlands and East strategic health authority. Her full time role was as chief strategy officer at Community Health Partnerships. Before taking up that post, she served as a finance director and commissioning director for primary care trusts.

Mr Farmer has been director of workforce at NHS Hertfordshire since January 2011, and Ms Chapman is the DH’s policy lead on the PCT estate programme.

DH commercial director Peter Coates said: “I am delighted to welcome all appointees to their new roles. Charles brings a wealth of experience to this post and will guide NHS PS towards meeting the organisational challenges of delivering estate management to the NHS.

“Simon and the rest of the team are highly experienced in managing property for the NHS and have a blend of skills ideally suited to taking this new venture forward.”

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