Sean Duggan has been appointed the new chief executive of the Mental Health Network.

The move follows the appointment of previous Mental Health Network head Stephen Dalton as interim chief executive of the NHS Confederation earlier this year.

Duggan (pictured) is currently the chief executive at the Centre for Mental Health, a mental health research organisation. Prior to this role (which he took up in 2006), Duggan worked at the Department of Health leading on mental health in the criminal justice system.

A registered mental health nurse by background, Duggan was awarded the President’s Medal by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2013. The award is given to the people who have made outstanding contributions to mental health and psychiatry.

Bev Humphrey, chair of the Mental Health Network and chief executive of Greater Manchester West NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Sean’s appointment is fantastic news for the Mental Health Network and our members. As a respected leader in the sector, he has already done so much to ensure that mental health is high on the agenda with senior politicians and policy makers in this country. We are immensely pleased to have someone of Sean’s calibre on board, as we move into the next phase for the Mental Health Network.”

The Mental Health Network is a membership body for NHS-funded mental health and learning disability providers.