A new Non-Executive Director has joined the Board of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, bringing with him extensive experience of working in and leading local councils.

Richard Stiff retired as Chief Executive of Angus Council in Scotland in May 2017. Prior to Angus he enjoyed a long career in English local government mainly in education and children’s services departments, holding senior posts with North Lincolnshire, Leeds and Dudley Councils.

Born and raised near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, Richard and his wife now live near Selby. He has two grown up sons and two grandchildren. He is a governor of Selby College, a director of a local authority-owned company and a trustee of TCV, the conservation charity. Away from work his interests include club cricket (at Hemingbrough in North Yorkshire), Ipswich Town FC, being outside and motorcycles.

Richard said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the Board of Harrogate and District Foundation Trust. The NHS is the UK’s jewel in the crown and in Harrogate and District we have one of the best-run and best-performing trusts in England serving our communities.

“Children’s services and relationships with local authority commissioners have become ever more important to the Trust in recent years and I hope that my experience at a senior level in local government will help the Trust to maintain and develop high quality services in that area.”

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust cares for the population in Harrogate and the local area as well as across North Yorkshire and Leeds. It also provides children’s services in County Durham, Darlington, Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees.

Chris Thompson, Vice Chairman at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome Richard to the Board of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust. We are commissioned by several councils in Yorkshire and the North East to provide children’s services, and his local government experience will be invaluable in helping us to achieve our vision and strategic objectives over the coming years.

“On behalf of the Board I would also like to thank outgoing Non-Executive Director Neil McLean for his expertise, input and insight over the past few years and wish him well in his new ventures.”