A FORMER chief executive at Colchester Hospital will become the new CEO of Anglian Community Enterprise (ACE).

The community interest company which offers health and wellbeing services is appointing Frank Sims who will take up the post in October.

He will succeed Lynne Woodcock who, after 46 years in the NHS, is retiring.

Frank spent a few months during 2016 leading the Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust in the run up to it linking with the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust.

He was the hospital’s first permanent post-holder since it was placed in special measures in December 2013.

He has also headed up clinical commissioning groups in Sussex and Norfolk.

Frank said: “I’m thrilled to have the privilege to work with ACE, our system partners and patients across north east Essex to help transform out of hospital care.

“I have been impressed by the staff I’ve met and their commitment to continuous improvement and I am looking forward to joining a great team.”

With two non-executive directors due to step down at the end of September, ACE will appoint Colchester Council’s deputy chairman Julie Young and Dr Noreen Cushen-Brewster from October.

Replacing Lawrie Payne, Julie Young is a former non-executive director of the old Colchester Primary Care Trust.

Julie will also take up the role of chair of the Anglian Community Trust.

Replacing Anne Thain, Dr Noreen Cushen-Brewster will inherit non-executive leadership of ACE’s service quality and clinical safety agenda.

Noreen has an impressive record of driving service improvement and clinical safety in the NHS.