Care UK’s managing director of healthcare, Jim Easton, has been appointed chair of the NHS Partners Network.

He succeeds Stephen Collier, former chief executive of General Healthcare Group, in the role. Collier held the post since March 2014.

Easton (pictured) has worked in executive positions across the NHS and independent provider sector. Previous roles include national director of transformation for the NHS in England and chief executive of York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

David Hare, chief executive of the NHS Partners Network, said: “Jim is a well-established and highly respected figure across the health sector and will be an invaluable asset to the network and our members. Jim takes on the role just months after the 2015 spending review committed the government to encourage new NHS partnerships with the independent sector and to further develop the capital, capacity and capability brought by independent sector providers. Jim’s experience in fostering collaboration across traditional divides will be critical in ensuring that the independent sector is playing its full part in delivering the ambitions set out in the spending review and also in the ‘Five year forward view’.

Hare added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Stephen Collier for his excellent leadership over the last two years and for his commitment and support to the independent sector’s contribution to improving NHS care."