A man whose first career was as a sound engineer at the famous Abbey Road studios has been appointed chief executive of the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Douglas Blair will take up the role next year following the retirement in March of the current chief executive, Paul Roberts.

The Trust chair, Ingrid Barker, said: “We began our recruitment process some months ago when Paul let us know of his decision to retire.

“We were fortunate to have five strong candidates to interview. These candidates spent a day in discussion groups with colleagues, governors, experts by experience/service users, and system partners prior to interview.

“Our panel, which comprised of colleagues from within the Trust and the South West region, including NHS England, were highly impressed by Douglas, his strong commitment and what he can bring to our Trust.

“We are really pleased to have secured this appointment. Paul is a very hard act to follow, but I am confident that Douglas will be a huge asset to our organisation, our wider health system and most importantly to the communities we serve.

“I believe he will continue to foster the culture we have worked hard to create over many years and that he shares the values at the heart of GHC.”

Mr Blair said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to lead Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust.  I have been impressed by the strong foundations in place within the Trust and excited by the opportunity to build on these to make further developments and improvements over coming years. 

“I look forward to joining the team, meeting new colleagues within the Trust and across the Integrated Care System and playing my part in serving the communities of Gloucestershire.”

Dame Gill Morgan, chair of NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, said: “I am delighted by Douglas’s appointment. He will contribute to the leadership of both GHC and One Gloucestershire.

“I know he will be a good partner and a strong advocate for communities, patients and staff. He will bring their realities and challenges into the boardroom and help keep us grounded. I look forward to working with him.”

Mr Blair is currently managing director of Wiltshire Health and Care, which delivers adult community health and learning disability services in Wiltshire, a role he has held since its establishment in July 2016. 

“He joined the NHS in 2006, with associate director and director roles in South Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, the South West Strategic Health Authority and NHS England before being appointed as director of community services at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2014, which led to him establishing Wiltshire Health and Care as an NHS partnership,” said a spokesperson.

“Prior to his time in the NHS, he was a civil servant, having being accepted into the Civil Service Fast Stream in 1998.  His government roles included homelessness policy, rural policy, the Scottish Cabinet secretariat and the reform and transformation of the prosecution service in Scotland.

“His first career was as a sound engineer, working for EMI at Abbey Road Studios.”