The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing today announced the appointment of a new member to Forth Valley NHS Board.

NHS Boards are responsible for the strategic planning of health services and the development of measures to improve the health of the community in their region.

Mr John Ford has a degree in Economics and is a CIPFA and FCCA qualified accountant with extensive management experience in the public and private sector.

He worked as Director of Finance at Stobhill NHS Trust for 6 years before joining the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) as Director of Finance and Corporate Services.  John then retired from SEPA in early 2013 and set up his own consultancy company. As well as bringing financial expertise to the Board John brings experience of implementing transformational change through leading customer focus and simplifying processes, procedures and systems projects. He also brings a wide range of experience in non-financial areas through his Director responsibility for corporate planning, HR & OD, ICT, procurement, facilities & estates, resilience and risk management.

The appointment will be for four years and will run from May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2018. The appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £8,008 for a time commitment of eight hours per week.

Mr Ford is a Treasurer on the Dementia Services Development Trust for which he receives no remuneration for a time commitment of half a day per month.

This appointment is regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.  Mr Ford has had no political activity in the last five years.