Downey will serve as joint chair of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLaG), which together form Humber Health Partnership. 

In his new role, Downey brings extensive experience of leadership and governance across the NHS and wider public sector.

He has previously served as chair of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and chair of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

In addition to his NHS roles, Downey has chaired a mental health partnership board for Surrey County Council and served as a trustee and chair of several charities. Earlier in his career he spent eight years in the civil service, before joining professional services firm KPMG, where he went on to lead the firm's public sector practice, advising government departments, universities, police forces, NHS trusts and local authorities.

Downey said: 'It is a privilege to be appointed as chair of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust. I know that the Humber Health Partnership faces significant challenges, but I am encouraged by the honesty with which those challenges are now being addressed.

'My focus will be on ensuring strong governance, clear leadership and close partnership with clinicians and colleagues as we continue to stabilise the organisation and improve the quality and safety of care for patients.'

Lyn Simpson, interim chief executive, said: 'I am delighted to welcome Alan to the Partnership. His experience as an NHS chair and his track record of supporting organisations through periods of improvement will be invaluable as we continue the stabilisation work now underway.

'Having a substantive chair in place is an important step in strengthening our leadership and governance as we move forward with the Improvement Plan and the strengthening of hospital leadership arrangements.'