Smith is a qualified accountant who worked for the Post Office and Royal Mail for more than 30 years in a variety of finance, HR and health & safety roles.

He has been involved with the NHS in a variety of non-executive director roles for the past 12 years, across community and mental health services, is currently also a non-executive director at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, is associate hospital manager in Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber and a trustee at Derbyshire Districts Citizens Advice Bureau.

NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB chair, Dr Kathy McLean, said: ‘Nigel brings a wealth of accounting and health service experience into this key role on our board, during a period where NHS finances and operational delivery are challenged, and where financial stewardship has never been of greater importance. Along with the wider board, I look forward to welcoming Nigel into his new position in January.'

Smith added: ‘Having worked previously in the Derbyshire NHS, it is great to be returning, not least given it is the county in which I live. There is undoubtedly a challenging period ahead to build on the work of my predecessors, and to ensure we continue to meet our aims to improve local health, shift our resources more meaningfully from treating ill health to prevention and to tackle the health inequalities which exist among our population.'

Smith will take up his appointment from 1 January 2025.