OXFORDSHIRE’S biggest hospital trust has named Sir Jonathan Michael as its new chief executive.

Sir Jonathan is currently managing director of BT Health, which provides IT services to the NHS.

He replaces Paul Farenden, who was appointed interim chief executive of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust following the surprise departure in October of Trevor Campbell Davis.

Sir Jonathan, who is a qualified doctor, will arrive in Oxford in April as the trust grapples with severe financial pressures that have left it seeking £44m savings this year.

After working as a consultant kidney specialist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, he became increasingly involved in management, going on to run a hospital trust in Birmingham, and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals in London. It became one of the first foundation trusts. He has held several national roles and chaired an inquiry into access to health care for those with learning disabilities.

Sir Jonathan, who was knighted for services to the NHS, said: “I look forward to working with all my future colleagues in the trust, the wider NHS and local universities to ensure that the ORH provides the highest quality of care for patients and plays its part in delivering excellent education, training and research.”