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Finance chief set to retire from full-time NHS service after 34 years

Nick Gerrard
Nick Gerrard

After 34 years in the NHS, Nick Gerrard is set to retire from full-time NHS work, and his position as East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust’s Director of Finance and Performance, this autumn.

The Trust has started the search for Nick’s successor.

Nick joined EKHUFT in May 2015 at a challenging time for the organisation. His financial leadership was instrumental in supporting the Trust to stabilise and get control of its finances. It made significant improvements, and in 2016/17 ended the year with an underlying £31m deficit, a reduction from £45m in the previous year.

This work continues and the Trust has agreed its financial recovery plan with NHS Improvement (NHSI), and has a fully costed £32m savings programme.

Nick has been previously a director of finance at acute, mental health and community NHS trusts; an interim chief executive; and has extensive experience of financial turnaround.

Chief Executive Matthew Kershaw said: “Nick’s experience has been a huge bonus to the Trust. We are appreciative of all the time Nick has spent in east Kent away from his family in Colchester and for delaying retirement from his full-time role, to lead the Trust through these important stages in our improvement journey, now and through the coming months until he retires in the autumn”.

Nick is a Governor and Chair of Audit at Colchester Sixth Form College, a member of the Essex University Audit and Risk Management Committee, and chairs the NHS Supply Chain Customer Board (south).  He is an active HFMA mentor and plans to build on this portfolio both in and outside the NHS.

Matthew Kershaw said: “I would like to thank Nick for the support that he has given to me as Chief Executive and for the significant contribution he has made to the Trust as a whole.

“I know that Nick’s commitment and passion for the NHS will continue and will be of huge benefit to the service. Nick will work with us through the summer while we search for his successor and will help us to continue to improve our finances, quality and performance.”

I would like to thank Nick for the support that he has given to me as Chief Executive and for the significant contribution he has made to the Trust as a whole.
Matthew Kershaw, Chief Executive