New director of people appointed to the RD&E and NDHT
The Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E) and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (NDHT) are pleased to announce the appointment of Hannah Foster as joint director of people following a rigorous selection process.
Hannah joins the NHS from Flybe, the Exeter-based airline, where she was director of people. Prior to her Flybe role, Hannah also held top strategic posts for the Church of England and global educational provider Pearson, helping both organisations develop key culture and organisational growth programmes.
As well as strategic and business acumen, Hannah brings a strong voluntary and charitable ethos to the RD&E and NDHT. She actively supports a number of charities, including being a Trustee of Exeter homeless support charity St Petrock’s, and she is a member of the Greater Exeter Skills Board.
Suzanne Tracey, chief executive of the RD&E and NDHT, said: “Hannah will bring a wealth of top-level human resources and strategic skills and experience to both trusts, plus the dynamic personal qualities we were seeking for such a key Board role.
“Our people are our biggest and best asset at both the RD&E and NDHT, and I know Hannah will provide us with the leadership needed to support our present and future staff to grow their careers and deliver the best possible services for our communities.”
One of Hannah’s priorities will be to lead the implementation of a new people strategy for each trust and she will be responsible for key areas such as recruitment and retention, workforce development, and staff health and wellbeing.
Hannah said: “I am delighted to have taken up this important role to support our local NHS workforce to continue the development and delivery of excellent healthcare provision at the RD&E and NDHT.
“I want to ensure that we are an employer of choice; enabling great careers for all our employees whilst also attracting the workforce we need for the future, with great people from Devon and further afield.”
Hannah started at the trusts on 5 August.
Suzanne added: “I would like to thank Julie Cooper for the expertise she has lent over the past year as interim director of people for the two trusts. I wish her all the best as she moves on to her next role.”
