Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust has announced the appointment of Maz Ahmed as non-executive director (NED).

Alongside his Board responsibilities, Maz, who is a qualified chartered accountant, will also chair the Trust’s Finance, Business and Investment Committee that provides broad oversight of the Trust’s financial reporting, and sit on the Trust’s Audit and Workforce and Equality Committees.

Currently operations director for Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc (Morrisons), Maz has held a number of senior finance roles for the national retailer.  Previously he was finance director responsible for leadership of the finance team and financial accountability for all of Morrisons’ 18 manufacturing sites, as well as the fresh trading division.

Maz brings extensive commercial and financial experience to the NED role.  He has a strong track record of leading organisational change and wide-ranging improvement initiatives, to meet customers’ needs.

Maz started his career at Morrisons in 2008 as part of the newly formed internal audit function.  Since then Maz has led the implementation of a business-wide financial reporting system and strategic reviews of the manufacturing division, including the acquisition of new businesses.  His leadership role includes building and promoting a culture of talent management, building capability and improving diversity.

He is also the sponsor of Morrison’s Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) programme, to improve diversity for BAME colleagues, and has recently been recognised in the 2020 Empower Ethnic Minority Role Model list.

Maz Ahmed, said: “I am very excited to be joining the Care Trust. During covid-19 across the country, we have seen the amazing work and dedication that NHS colleagues have displayed in the face of the most challenging of situations.  I have already seen how hard the Trust works to help local people.  I am looking forward to using the skills I have developed at Morrisons to help the Trust achieve its ambitious plans, strategic priorities and achieve its aim of better lives, together.”

Prior to Morrisons, Maz worked in external audit with a national audit firm, supporting clients across a range of industries including the public sector.

Commenting on his appointment, Trust chair, Cathy Elliott said: “I’m delighted to welcome Maz to our Trust Board.  His extensive commercial and operational financial experience brings valuable insight and perspective to our Board discussions.  This, alongside his experience of leading change management initiatives, further strengthens our approach, as we continue to develop services with partners, to meet our communities’ needs.”