Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust and 2gether NHS Foundation Trust have appointed a joint chief executive for both organisations.

Paul Roberts (pictured right) has been selected in the role of joint chief executive following a thorough national selection process, which included discussions with service users and representatives from both Trusts, in addition to a formal interview.

He will take up his position on Monday 16 April and lead the work to formally unite the two Trusts, in line with plans announced last September.

Paul said: "I am delighted to have been appointed to this exciting new role. Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust and 2gether NHS Foundation Trust are both already very strong, high quality organisations.

"I look forward to building on these strengths over the coming months and years as the two organisations work even more closely together.

"I have no doubt that this closer integration will benefit service users, carers and the local community more generally and I am looking forward to playing my part in leading this development."

Paul has been a chief executive for over twenty years and spent more than five years in Wales leading a large Health Board responsible for community, mental health and learning disability services as well as for four acute hospitals. He spent fourteen years in Plymouth as Chief Executive of community and mental health services and then the acute teaching hospital NHS Trust.

An Oxford University graduate, he has also held a variety of national roles across the NHS, including being a trustee of the NHS Confederation, vice-chair of the Association of UK University Hospitals and a member of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.

Ingrid Barker, who took up her position as chair of both Trusts on January 1, said: "Everyone understands that this is a very important appointment, and there was complete agreement that Paul stood out from an extremely strong field of candidates.

"His leadership, experience, compassion and dedication to our Trusts' strategic vision will be invaluable as we lay down a blueprint for mental health, learning disability and physical health services which offer better co-ordinated, and more effective, care."