Peterborough and Stamford appoints new CEO

Stephen Graves, chief executive at nearby West Suffolk Foundation Trust will take on the role, currently occupied by interim chief executive Peter Reading last September.

Prior to his current role at West Suffolk, Mr Graves was director of corporate development at Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.

Mr Reading will leave the trust on 23 June. The trust’s finance director, Caroline Walker, will fulfil the interim chief executive role until Mr Graves arrives.

The appointment was ratified by the trust’s council of governors on 10 April.

Rob Hughes, trust chairman, said: “I am delighted to welcome Stephen as our new chief executive.

“His appointment was made following a rigorous recruitment process and I know I speak on behalf of the board and our council of governors when I say that we are all looking forward to working with him.

“Stephen has a broad range of experience within the NHS. One of his areas of expertise is business development, which makes him the ideal candidate to lead us in the next phase of the strategic development of our hospitals in Peterborough and Stamford.

“I would also like to thank Peter Reading for his excellent performance over the past two years. He has been responsible for leading a huge amount of positive change within the trust. We wish him well for the future.” 

The trust, which has annual debts of more than £40m resulting from a disastrous PFI deal, is due to publish a tender this summer. This will set the criteria potential bidders will need to fulfill to take over the running of the troubled provider.