GWENT Healthcare Trust has a new chairman - former chief executive of the Welsh Development Agency Dr Brian Willott.

He took over from Denis Jessopp yesterday, who has stood down after four years at the trust helm.

Dr Willott, who lives near Raglan, became a non-executive director of the trust last December, and brings to the post a wealth of experience from industry and the civil service.

After an initial academic career as a research physicist in Cambridge and the USA, he joined the United Kingdom civil service. He has held a variety of posts in the Board of Trade, the Treasury and the Department of Trade and Industry.

He is also a visiting professor at the University of Glamorgan, a director of Dragon International Studios, and a member of the Council of the National Museum and Galleries of Wales.

Dr Willott has been appointed for a five-year period, and he is said to be "honoured and delighted" to have been offered the post.

"I'm very much aware of the challenges facing today's NHS, and look forward to contributing to, and supporting, what I know is an incredibly dedicated and professional workforce," he said.

Mr Jessopp was chairman of the former Glan Hafren NHS Trust, which included the Royal Gwent and St Woolos Hospitals, and which provided secondary care services for south Gwent. He previously enjoyed a successful career in industry, latterly at Hoover. He was a supporter of the reconfiguration of NHS trusts in Wales, which resulted in the Glan Hafren, Nevill Hall and Gwent Community Health Trusts merging in 1999 to become the current Gwent Healthcare Trust.

He became the latter's chairman on its inception, when Peter Law, who had chaired the 'shadow' Gwent Healthcare Trust, resigned to fight the first Assembly election for Labour in Blaenau Gwent.

Assembly Health Minister Jane Hutt praised Mr Jessopp's contribution. "I am grateful for his hard work and dedication, for his commitment to the NHS in Wales, and would like to wish him all the best for the future," she said.

NHS trust chairmen in Wales will receive £30,450 in 2003/04, for a time commitment of 14 and a half days a month.