THE new chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust says she is looking forward to getting to know its staff and volunteers.

Foluke Ajayi is currently director of strategic transformation at Humber Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership, and will join Airedale in the spring.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining Airedale as chief executive. Airedale is an organisation with a great reputation and a clear ambition to make a real difference for its people, patients, and communities through valuing diversity and developing an environment for all to thrive.

"My first task will be getting to know Airedale’s staff and volunteers, which I am looking forward to. I will be joining the trust at an exciting time, as the new theatre and intensive care unit buildings open.

"I want to play my part, together with Airedale’s teams and partners, to transform health and care for the communities we serve and to continue the development of our estate to create modern, 21st-century facilities”.

Ms Ajayi began her career in audiology at Bradford NHS Foundation Trust. Since then, she has held senior roles in the Department of Health and NHS Employers.

In 2008, she joined Leeds Teaching Hospitals as directorate manager, after which she led their cancer centre as general manager.

For five years until 2020, she was chief operating officer at Morecambe Bay University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Since 2020 Ms Ajayi has held the post of director of strategic transformation at Humber Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership.

Andrew Gold, chair of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are very pleased to announce that we have appointed Foluke Ajayi as the trust’s new chief executive officer.

“This is an excellent appointment for us. Foluke will ably and skilfully lead us as we move into what we hope will be a post-pandemic recovery period, and will provide a strong, experienced voice in both our local system and at a regional level.

“We look forward to welcoming her to the trust in the spring.”