Permanent Finance Director appointed to Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

A permanent Finance Director has been appointed to Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
Annie Carr, a chartered accountant with an extensive background in public and commercial sector financial management will start with the Trust in January.

Annie replaces Malcolm Dennett who joined the Trust in January 2006 on a one year fixed term contract. Malcolm intends to continue applying his experience to contributing to strengthening financial management and performance within the public sector. He is pleased that the Trust has been successful in making a substantive appointment to take the Trust forward for the longer term.

Roy Davies, Chairman for Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said: “On behalf of the Trust board I would like thank Malcolm Dennett for his dedication over the last year. He has been instrumental in helping to bring about positive changes. I would like to welcome Annie to the board and look forward to working with her as we move forward towards further stabilising the financial position of the organisation. She brings with her immense experience in financial management and accounting which will undeniably be invaluable to the organisation.”

Annie joins Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust from Sussex Ambulance Service where she held the position of Interim Director of Finance and Resources until June this year. Previous to this role, Annie was a Non Executive Director for the ambulance Trust. Prior to taking a career break to raise her daughter, Annie worked for MGM Assurance for eight years first as a management accountant, progressing to Financial Controller and then Director of Finance and Company Secretary. Annie spent 4 years with KPMG gaining experience in the financial services, manufacturing, FMCG, aviation, travel and public sectors.

Annie Carr said: “I am looking forward to joining Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and being part of the team who are bringing about positive changes and driving forward sustained improvements to the financial position. Already, the organisation has reduced the monthly overspend by around £2 million a month and I am confident that together we can reduce this overspend further by the middle of next year.”

She continued: “The challenge that faces any new Finance Director of an NHS organisation in deficit is immense but I’m confident that Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust will turn itself around to be a local health service we can all be proud of.”

Annie lives in Ansty in West Sussex. She was appointed following a robust selection process which included a panel interview with health authority representation, an external assessor, new Chief Executive, Gail Wannell, Trust Chairman, Roy Davies and David Bailey, Chair of the Trust Audit Committee.

-Ends-

Notes to the Editor

• The annual salary for new Finance Director Annie Carr will be £95,000.