A troubled Kent hospitals trust has finally appointed a new permanent chief executive – and he’s a familiar face.

Matthew Kershaw has been recruited to take on the reins of the east Kent health trust, which looks after hospitals in Canterbury, Thanet, Ashford, Dover and Folkestone.

He will take over from interim chief executive Chris Bown, who was parachuted in last year when the trust was placed into special measures.

It has not yet been decided when Mr Kershaw will start in his new role, but Mr Bown’s year-long, £294,000 contract is thought to end early next year.

The trust’s last permanent chief executive, Stuart Bain, retired in March.

Mr Kershaw's was the trust’s chief operating officer between 2006 and 2008, and is now chief executive of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals.

His appointment was made following a national and international search for Mr Bain’s successor.

Trust bosses say he “brings extensive and varied experience from across the NHS, both locally and nationally”.

He has held senior positions at the Department of Health, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, South London Healthcare NHS Trust and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

He was also recently asked to chair the local Clinical Research Network, is a trustee of the NHS Confederation and a member of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Academic Health Science Network and Health Education England boards.

He said: “I look forward to working with staff, patients and other stakeholders to further progress the trust’s work to deliver excellent hospital services for local people.”

East Kent Hospitals Trust chairman Nikki Cole will help establish a start date and handover plans.

She said: “I am delighted that Matthew will be returning to east Kent in this leadership role.

“He brings a wealth of ideas and experience from a career across the NHS.

“I look forward to working closely with him as we lead innovation, change and build on the improvements we have already made to improve care and treatment for the patients who rely on us.”