The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for delivering services and is accountable for
operational performance as well as the definition and implementation of strategy and policy.
Chairman
Dr Robina Shah, MBE
Re-appointed on 01.11.2009 until 31.10.2012
Background
Robina Shah has over 27 years’ experience as a director, senior consultant and research fellow in health, social care, higher education and the voluntary sector. She is a psychologist, academic and author.
Robina was the UK’s youngest chairman of an NHS Trust when appointed in 2000. She was actively involved in the Trust’s successful application for Foundation status and was appointed chairman of the new Trust in April 2004.
Robina has held various leadership and board roles including with the Department of Health National Leadership Council, the National Council of the NHS Confederation and NHS National Equality and Diversity Council.
Robina also chairs the national World Health Organisation steering group for promoting healthy hospitals at the Department of Health. In 2011 Robina was appointed to the NHS Future Forum and is an associate of the General Medical Council.
Non Executive Directors
Gill Easson
Appointed on 01.01.2010 until 31.12.2012
Deputy Chairman
Background
Gillian Easson is a qualified solicitor and board member of Ofqual, the regulator of examinations in England and qualifications in Northern Ireland, which vested in 2010.
Gillian was previously a non-executive director of The Christie Cancer Centre including chair of the audit committee and three years as chair of the finance committee.
She is member of the audit and risk committee and chair of the external advisory group on equality and diversity at Ofqual. Gillian is currently chair of the University of Manchester Staffing Committee and chair of the board of the publishing house.
Malcom Sugden
Appointed on 01.04.2012 until 31.03.2015
Background
With a background in accountancy, Malcolm Sugden has operated at a senior financial level
within major North West businesses for the last twenty years. His work in recent years has
included several finance roles for United Utilities, and serving as finance director for
Electricity North West Ltd.
Malcolm was formerly a non-executive director of NHS Tameside and Glossop Primary Care Trust.
The community services which were previously part of NHS Tameside and Glossop have been run by
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust for the past year.
Carol Prowse
Appointed on 01.04.2010 until 31.03.2013
Appointed as Senior Independent Director in December 2009.
Background
Carol Prowse worked in banking in the City of London and then returned to Derbyshire to work in local government. Currently she is the company secretary and a director of the High Peak Theatre Trust, which operates the Buxton Opera House.
Carol has a strong interest in the performing arts and also works with the Kinder Children’s Choirs of the High Peak. For five years she was a non-executive director on the High Peak and Dales Primary Care Trust Board and was their appointed Governor with this Trust when it gained Foundation Status.
Leslie Wilcock
Appointed on 01.07.2009 until 30.06.2012
Background
Les Wilcock is the managing director of Opening Doors marketing agency, which he established in 2004. His background also includes 20 years working for technology based businesses in various senior sales and marketing roles. He was with KPMG Management Consulting for seven years and has advised clients on business strategy and marketing planning.
He has an in depth understanding of the profile and make-up of the areas served by the Trust having spent four years as managing director of a fire and flood restoration company serving both domestic and commercial customers in the Stockport and High Peak area.
John Sandford
Appointed on 01.07.2011 until 30.06.2014.
Background
John Sandford qualified as a chartered accountant in 1980 and was appointed an audit and assurance partner in KPMG. During his time with KPMG he specialised in advising co-operative and mutual organisations, pension schemes and Small and medium sized enterprises. On leaving KPMG at the end of 2010 he was appointed as a council member of the central finance board of the Methodist Church and a director of the associated business Epworth Investments, where he chairs the audit committee.
He is currently a partner in Mckellens Outsourcing LLP, a strategy and governance consultancy. John has many years of experience in understanding different businesses and advising them on performance and risk issues. He is treasurer and trustee of Forever Manchester, The Community Foundation for Greater Manchester and chair of trustees of The Edward Mayes Trust.
Executive Directors
Chief Executive - Chris Burke
Background
Chris Burke is an experienced NHS professional having worked across the North West in a variety of posts in operational and personnel management. He joined the Stockport Health Authority in 1989 as Director of HR prior to becoming Chief Executive of the Foundation Trust in 2004.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Personnel Development, has an MSc in Employment Studies and was awarded a PhD in Organisational Development.
Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations and Performance - Ann Barnes
Background
Ann Barnes has worked in the NHS since 1979 and during the past 32 years has worked both at regional and hospital level across the full spectrum of district general hospital service provision. Ann joined Stockport NHS Foundation Trust in 2000.
Medical Director - James Catania
Background
James Catania has been a Medical Director for the last nine years and is a specialist in the care of older people, for which he has retained his clinical commitments. He has worked as a consultant physician for the last 18 years and has been involved in management for over 16 years.
Director of Finance - Bill Gregory
Background
Bill Gregory joined the Trust, from Sherwood Forest NHS Foundation Trust where he had been Executive Director of Finance since November 2003. He has worked in a variety of finance and commercial roles within the public and private sectors. Having trained as an Accountant with Coopers and Lybrand, he joined the NHS in 1993 and has previously held the post of Director of Finance at two NHS Trusts in northwest England, and Head of Business Development for BUPA Hospitals.
Director of Nursing and Midwifery - Judith Morris
Background
Judith Morris began her career at Manchester Royal Infirmary and became one of the first intakes to study for the new Bachelor of Nursing qualification at the University of Manchester. She became a Nursing Tutor in 1987 and went on to work in various nursing specialist roles, being appointed as Assistant Director of Nursing with the then Stockport Healthcare Trust. She continued in that role when the Stockport Trusts merged in 2000 and became Deputy of Director of Nursing and Midwifery in 2004 and Director of Nursing in 2008.
Director of Human Resources (non voting) - Nicola Reucroft
Background
Nicola Reucroft has been the Director of Human Resources at the Trust since 2004. She is a graduate (BA Hons) and fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD). Nicola has worked in both the public and private sectors and has a particular interest in staff engagement and leadership development. Nicola is responsible for the HR service which includes Learning and Development and Occupational Health and has considerable experience in employee relations, pay and reward management and change management..
Director of Planning and Business Development (non voting) - Carole Spencer
Background
Carole Spencer began her career with a ten year spell in the private sector, working in investment banking and the stock market and subsequently in management consultancy with a focus on business improvement.
Her first role in the health service was as Director of Business Planning at Alder Hey, Royal Liverpool Children’s NHS Trust where she worked for two years. After taking up a post with the then Regional Health Authority where she worked on a variety of strategic developments, Carole worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital as Director of Service Development and Planning.