Axcell, who is an experienced mental health and ICB chief executive from the West Midlands, will join Nottinghamshire Healthcare's senior leadership team in June.

In December 2025, Ifti Majid, the trust's current chief executive, announced his plans to retire after three years at the trust and 42 years' NHS service. He delayed his retirement to support the trust and its staff through the Nottingham Inquiry's oral hearings phase, which is scheduled to finish in June.

Tom Cahill, trust chair, said: ‘The board wanted to appoint an inspirational leader who would guide it through the next phase of our journey and support the delivery of our ambition to provide the very best possible care to the people who need it. I am confident we have found that person and I look forward to working with him.'

Axcell said: ‘I look forward to working with staff, partners and our communities to continue to improve our services.

‘Having spent much of my career leading mental health and community organisations, I understand both the scale of the task and the importance of getting it right for patients and staff.'