The new chairman of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said he was looking forward to taking on the role during a “period of unparalleled change”.

Mahdi Hasan has been interim chairman since May, and joined the board as a non-executive director in 2006.

The St Albans resident has a background in mechanical engineering, and has had an extensive career in project management in the oil and gas industry in the UK and overseas.

He said: “Our three hospitals have much to be proud of and I look forward to working with our doctors, nurses, midwives and other staff, as well as our patients and local people, to further improve the quality and safety of the care we provide.

“The NHS is witnessing a period of unparalleled change, which brings with it many challenges and opportunities.  I look forward to working with my executive and non-executive colleagues to maximise the opportunities and to manage and mitigate the challenges.”

The appointment was made by the NHS Trust Development Authority, which is responsible for appointing all chairman and non-executive roles to NHS trusts throughout England.

The position is for two years and receives a salary of £23,600.

Samantha Jones, chief executive said: “I am delighted that Mahdi has been appointed as our new chairman.

“He is absolutely committed to the NHS and his knowledge of our hospitals, combined with being a long-standing local resident, make him an ideal candidate for this role.

“The chairman of a hospital trust plays a crucial role and it’s good to have someone with Mahdi’s experience, knowledge and skills on board.”