Joint chair appointed to lead Kent and Medway mental and community health trusts

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust and Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust have appointed Colin Lynch as their new joint chair.

Colin brings extensive board level experience across NHS mental health and community services, with a strong strategic focus on services transformation, system leadership, Board effectiveness and cultural development.

He currently serves as vice chair of integrated community and mental health provider North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) and was previously its senior independent director.

Alongside this, Colin is chair of Locala Health and Wellbeing, a social enterprise delivering independent, NHS and local authority commissioned community health and wellbeing services across West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.

As joint chair, he will work closely with both Boards and Chief Executives, Governors and system partners across Kent and Medway. His role will support more effective, joined up leadership across mental and community health services, strengthening collaboration and financial stability across the system, and driving transformative improvement in services and outcomes for local communities.

He will place particular emphasis on working more closely with primary care, local government, voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) partners and acute NHS providers, alongside supporting financial stability and sustainable improvement across the system. 

A strong focus on culture will also underpin the role, recognising the importance of colleague development, empowerment and inclusive leadership in delivering better outcomes for patients, service users and communities.

Commenting on his appointment, Colin Lynch said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to work closely with two progressive NHS organisations, to support more ambitious and effective transformation across mental and community health services in Kent and Medway. Developments within Places and Neighbourhoods, for instance, offer so many opportunities. 

“I am passionate about improving health and wellbeing outcomes for our communities, the scope for mental and community health to lead on meaningful ‘left shift’ including more effective prevention work and the importance of maximising positive culture and leadership within and between our service providers. 

“I believe this means continually raising our collective ambition around system leadership, partnership working and investing in our colleagues. I am really looking forward to helping to build on the work to date and to engaging with colleagues in both trusts, Governors and all our partners.”

Sheila Stenson, Chief Executive of Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “I am delighted to welcome Colin as our joint chair. His experience, values and strong commitment to system working and cultural development will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen governance, improve consistency and work more closely with our partners to deliver joined up care for local people.”

Mairead McCormick, Chief Executive of Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Colin as our joint chair. He brings a breadth of experience across community physical and mental health, with a real understanding of the ambitions of helping communities thrive. He also demonstrates a real interest in people, values and behaviours, which will be instrumental in continuing to build on our collaborative approach to delivering health care.”
 
Colin will take up the role on 1 July 2026, following the completion of the terms of office of Dr Jackie Craissati MBE, chair of Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust from 2021 to 2026, and John Goulston, chair of Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust from 2018 to 2026.