Neil Dardis has joined Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust as its chief executive this week.

Neil starts at the trust with more than 20 years’ experience in the NHS, mostly at managerial and board level.

Last week he said farewell to colleagues at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, where he joined as chief operating officer in 2013 and became CEO two years later. There he led a rapid transformation of the quality of care, staff engagement and the development of sustainable service strategies.

Neil said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be joining the team at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. Whilst I recognise the challenges facing the NHS in the future, Frimley is a fantastic organisation with a reputation for delivering excellence and I am excited by the opportunities we have to ensure that we provide outstanding care for the communities we serve.”

In his previous role Neil also led the way in developing system-wide change across Buckinghamshire, working in partnership with other health and care organisations.

He has also held senior positions at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, the Royal Free London NHS Trust and Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust.

Last month Neil was named among the Health Service Journal’s Top 50 NHS Chief Executives.

He will be the executive leader of the trust, which has around 9,000 members of staff and serves a diverse community stretching from Hampshire and Surrey into Berkshire and south Buckinghamshire. In addition to our three main hospital sites, the trust runs further community and outpatient treatment and diagnostic services at a number of satellite locations.

Neil replaces Sir Andrew Morris, who was chief executive at the trust since 1989. Sir Andrew retired from the trust this month but will be continuing to work in his role as chairman of the Frimley Integrated Care System, leading on closer integration between all health and care services across the areas.