Cowell is currently chair Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

She said: ‘It is a genuine honour to be appointed to this role at such a defining moment for the NHS. The North West has an extraordinary range of talent, commitment and ambition across its organisations and systems, and I cannot wait to get started.

‘I look forward to building strong relationships with chairs, leaders and partners across the region, working together to strengthen governance, drive improvement, and make a real difference to the lives of the people and communities we are here to serve.'

MFT vice-chair Trevor Rees will become acting chair while the trust begins the process of appointing a permanent successor. Rees has more than 20 years' NHS experience and has been a non‑executive director on the MFT board.

Chief executive Mark Cubbon will also return to MFT full‑time in the summer following completion of his interim national role.