NORTH Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust has appointed a new non-executive director.

Tony Gadsby will replace Joe Boulton, whose term of office finished at the end of October.

Mr Gadsby is expected to devote at least two-and-a-half days each month to the role over the four-year period and will be paid £6,096 each year.

Mr Gadsby, from Cheadle, is a chartered engineer who has worked for JCB since 1990 in senior and executive managerial positions.

Prior to retiring last year, Mr Gadsby was managing director of JCB's groundcare division.

He is currently a vice-district governor of the Lions Clubs International and will take over as district governor and sit on the UK executive of the association in 2010.

Mr Gadsby said: "I hope to use my experiences in the private and voluntary sector to make a difference."

The trust provides mental health and learning disability services in the region.