Hywel Dda University Health Board has announced Steve Moore as its new Chief Executive.

In a press release issued on Friday, the Health Board said Mr Moore has extensive experience in both the health and social care sectors and is currently Consulting Director for Health and Social Care Policy for global multi-disciplinary consultancy firm ICF International.

Prior to this, he was Chief Executive for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust (PCT) and, following NHS reorganisation, was appointed Chief Executive of the both Cornwall and Devon PCT clusters which include NHS Plymouth, NHS Devon and Torbay Care Trust.

More recently he was Director of the NHS England Area Team covering Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Health Board chairman Bernardine Rees, said: "As Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board, I am very proud to welcome Mr Moore as Chief Executive of our organisation.

"Steve has an excellent reputation for successfully delivering improvements centered around the values of the NHS putting patients first. There is no doubt that he is an experienced and visionary leader and we are confident that these leadership skills, coupled with his extensive experience will be of great benefit as we continue the journey of providing sustainable services for the population of Hywel Dda. On behalf of my fellow Board members I would like to congratulate Mr Moore on his appointment."

Mr Moore said: “I am delighted to have been appointed at such a critical time for health and social care integration within Wales.

"I am looking forward to taking up the role, getting out and meeting staff and stakeholders to fully understand the current challenges and together building the right future for health and social care services for every person living in the Hywel Dda healthcare area.”

Mr Moore joined the NHS in 1989 as a finance trainee in Plymouth Health Authority before qualifying as a chartered management accountant and moving into the field of contracting and performance.

He was awarded a Master of Science in Health Economics and Health Policy at Birmingham University in 2001 and joined Plymouth Primary Care Trust in 2004 as a health economist.

He was then responsible for contracting and performance at Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT prior to his appointment there as Chief Executive.

His other roles have included being the financial controller of Plymouth and Torbay Health Authority, a board member of Community 1st Cornwall and very recently he has joined the Board of the Adventure Learning Academy Trust in Cornwall. He also occasionally lectures at the Peninsula Medical School in Truro on leadership and management in the NHS.

Mr Moore joins the Health Board as 24 hour paediatric services are due to be removed from Withybush Hospital.