SOUTH Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is welcoming a former Naval serviceman as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Will Warrender, who has had an extensive career in the Royal Navy, has been appointed as the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust's (SWASFT) new CEO.

He is set to take over from the current CEO Ken Wenman, who is retiring at the end of June.

Will Warrender said: "I am very excited to be joining South Western Ambulance Service. As part of the application process, I met many of the caring and dedicated people who work in the Trust, the committed and insightful leadership team and many health service stakeholders.

"I am delighted to be able to continue my career in public service and feel there is no better organisation than SWASFT in which to transfer my skills to deliver exceptional patient care, delivered by exceptional people. I am incredibly proud and excited to join the team."

During the selection process, SWASFT noted that Mr Warrender displayed strong leadership and determination, leading to his candidacy being widely supported.

A spokesman said: "His determination to make a difference in the role was infectious. Will demonstrated his ability to be truly effective by quickly assimilating information about our patients, our people, the ambulance sector, the South West health economy as well as our wide range of other stakeholders."

Tony Fox, Chair of the South Western Ambulance Service, said: "We are very excited that Will is joining us, bringing a wealth of leadership experience in complex and challenging environments. His personal values are a great alignment with those of the Trust and we know that he will be an inclusive and compassionate leader, able to take the Trust forward as we continue our drive to be an outstanding organisation in all that we do."

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust provides emergency medical services to Dorset, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Swindon.