Evelyn Asante-Mensah appointed chairwoman of Pennine Care board of directors

Evelyn Asante-Mensah OBE

Evelyn Asante-Mensah OBE has been appointed chairwoman of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust board of directors.

She will take up the post in November, replacing current chairman John Schofield who will step down following a 10-year tenure at the trust.

Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I am really pleased to be joining Pennine Care. I believe it is an organisation that puts the interests of patients first and is driven by strong values, which chime with my own. My particular areas of interest are in tackling inequalities in health and social care and promoting equality and diversity.

“Pennine Care has a significant role to play in improving care for local people and I hope to bring new perspectives and constructive challenge to ensure its continued success.”

Claire Molloy, Chief Executive, added: “I am very happy that Evelyn will be joining us here at Pennine Care, she has a great deal to offer and will further enhance the wealth of skills and experience we have on our board. Having only joined the trust recently myself, I am looking forward to working closely with Evelyn to ensure our services are the best they can be. This new leadership signals an important change for Pennine Care and together we will build on the Trust’s strengths, whilst also considering a new future direction and different ways of working.

“I would also like to thank John Schofield for his notable contributions and achievements over the last 10 years. He is widely respected and will be missed by staff and colleagues all around the trust.”

Ms Asante-Mensah has held senior positions in a variety of health and voluntary organisations over the last 25 years. She was chairwoman of Central Manchester Primary Care Trust and then NHS Manchester over a 12 year period. She also held a board-level role at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust. She is currently chairwoman of the Arawak Walton Housing Association, which provides homes to people in Stockport and Trafford and is a board governor at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Ms Asante-Mensah was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to ethnic minorities in the field of health.

Pennine Care provides community and mental health care to a population of 1.3 million people, covering Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford.