Priory, the provider of mental health services and specialist residential adult care services, has appointed Rebekah Cresswell as its UK chief executive.

This follows the merger of Priory and Median under the new holding company Median B.V. From 1 November, Cresswell will take over UK responsibilities from Dr André Schmidt, who will continue on the board of Priory, and remains group chief executive of Median across both the UK and Germany.

Cresswell joined Priory in 2012 with experience of senior management in operational and strategic management roles, specialising in quality improvement and performance management. While chief operating officer of Priory Adult Care, she led 240 sites across the UK, responsible for workforce engagement, developing governance structures and achieving optimal financial performance.

Before joining Priory, Cresswell worked in senior posts across the NHS including as head of governance and quality improvement at NHS Stockport and then as assistant director of clinical quality and patient safety at NHS Northwest Strategic Health Authority.

Schmidt said: “We are delighted that Rebekah will be taking up the role as our UK CEO of Priory, as she is uniquely positioned to drive the organisation forwards. We have made great progress in growing together as a combined company and I am looking forward to working with Rebekah as we move forward to building Europe’s leading provider of high-quality mental health and medical rehabilitative services.”

Cresswell commented: “I am honoured to lead Priory in the UK at this important time for the organisation. Priory has a strong worldwide reputation for delivering quality mental healthcare for patients in the UK. I am tremendously excited about the opportunities for the future and working with our commissioners and partners including NHSE and others. I am also proud to work alongside, and to grow, our talented and dedicated workforce to meet the increasing demands both for mental healthcare, and for specialist residential adult care services, and welcome the opportunity of realising Priory’s full potential as part of the combined group with Median.”