A new chief executive has been appointed to head up specialist NHS mental health and learning disability services across Greater Manchester.

Anthony Hassall will take up the chief executive post at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, which provides care and treatment for people in Tameside and Oldham (as well as Bury, Rochdale and Stockport). 

He will be responsible for 132 different services, which serve an overall population of 1.3 million and 3,600 employees.

Pennine Care provides care from 100 locations across the region, as well as in people's homes.

Mr Hassall is currently Regional Chief People Officer at NHS England and Improvement North West, and before that was Chief Accountable Officer at Salford Clinical Commissioning Group for six years.

At Salford, he led a team who achieved an NHS England and Improvement 'outstanding' rating every year and was instrumental in work to redesign both children and adult mental health services across the city, in partnership with other organisations.

Mr Hassall, who is a Trustee of a mental health charity, has also worked at director level in NHS provider trusts both in South Manchester and the Wirral.

He will replace Claire Molloy, the current chief executive at Pennine Care, who is retiring in April after five years with the organisation. 

Mr Hassall said: "I am thrilled about joining Pennine Care and consider it a real privilege to have been asked to lead the organisation on this next part of its journey.

"Pennine Care has an inspiring vision, strong values and big ambitions and my aim will be to continue to improve services for local people and communities and help reduce health inequalities.

"There are of course still many challenges ahead, in terms of service and workforce pressures and the impact of the pandemic. Pennine Care however has such skilled and committed people that there is no doubt in my mind that we will rise to the challenge, and I am excited about all that lies ahead.

"I look forward to working with all of its fantastic colleagues, service users, carers and partners in my new role." 

Evelyn Asante-Mensah OBE, Chair of Pennine Care, commented: "I am delighted that after a rigorous search and a strong field of candidates we have appointed Anthony to be our new chief executive. He comes with a strong track record and will bring extensive experience, knowledge and skills to take us on the next part of our journey.

"Anthony has a superb reputation and is known for his positive team building skills, strategic intellect and collaborative approach.

"Claire Molloy will leave a strong legacy when she retires, especially in terms of our culture development work, strategic direction and values driven leadership, and Anthony will be able to build on this for the people we serve."