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Trust chair leaves after less than a year in post

Published on: 13 Jan 2025
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An ambulance trust chair is leaving after just 10 months to take up an as-yet-unspecified executive role elsewhere in the NHS.

Usman Khan will leave South East Coast Ambulance Service Foundation Trust in March to become an executive director at another NHS organisation, the trust said yesterday.

Mr Khan took on the position at the end of May last year. At the time, lead governor Leigh Westwood said he was looking forward to “working closely with him in the years ahead”.

The trust said his replacement will be appointed for a minimum 12-month period while it awaits the outcome of work with South Central Ambulance Service to “explore creating a group model”.

The trusts have not yet confirmed any plan to share a chair or CEO, but are expected to give more details of their intentions this year.

The trust announcement did not say which organisation Mr Khan was leaving to join. He said: “While I am obviously delighted to have the opportunity to take on a new challenge, I am sad to be leaving SECAmb and the fantastic team led by our chief executive, Simon Weldon.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with SECAmb, have learnt a great deal about the ambulance service, and have been incredibly impressed with the commitment and care shown by our people.”

Chief executive Simon Weldon said: “I’d like to thank Usman for the energy and perspective he has brought to the role of chair, which has helped us to build solid foundations across the organisation as we continue our improvement journey.”

Mr Khan runs a company offering consultancy and research with a focus on health and social care, according to its website. He is also chair of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and a non-executive at North Central London Integrated Care Board.