Health secretary Jeane Freeman appoints three new NHS board chairs

Three new chairs have been appointed to NHS health boards around Scotland by health secretary Jeane Freeman.

Lesley Bowie will chair the board of NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Meghan McEwen will chair NHS Orkney and Janie McCusker will chair NHS Forth Valley.

The pay for NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Forth Valley is £31,772 a year, while NHS Orkney pays £29,431 a year.

All three appointments will all be for four years from 1 March 2020 to 29 February 2024 and involve a part-time commitment of three days per week.

Lesley Bowie has been a member of NHS Ayrshire and Arran board for over six years and is currently the interim chair.

She is retired, having worked in the IT sector for more than 30 years with a background in both operations and management, including leading international transformation programmes.  

Janie McCusker was in the RAF for 22 years and has also worked with international organisations including the UN and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. 

McCusker is currently chair of the Glasgow Colleges Regional Board, responsible for the strategic planning of college provision across the Glasgow region, for which she is paid £330 per day for a time commitment of two days per week.

Meghan McEwen has lived in Orkney for 16 years and has worked in community development for most of that time, as well as volunteering with local organisations and groups. 

She has been a member of NHS Orkney board since September 2018, chairing the audit committee. 

Freeman said: “I am pleased to appoint Lesley Bowie, Meghan McEwen, and Janie McCusker as new NHS board chairs today.

“Each brings their own skills and experience to these critical leadership roles.

“I’m confident that under their direction all three health boards will continue to deliver high levels of care for those in the local area as well as continue to drive forward effective governance across their health board.

“I look forward to working with them in these new positions and in the months ahead.”