The ambulance service is set to get a new man at its helm.

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Philip Astle as chief executive.

Mr Astle will take up his role on September 1, replacing Dr Fionna Moore, who has acted up as chief on an interim basis since the departure of Daren Mochrie.

It was announced in November last year that he was set to leave after he was appointed in April 2017.

The announcement came days after a report was published stating the trust required improvement.

Mr Astle is joining the service after coming from South Central Ambulance Service where he is currently chief operating officer.

Dr Moore will remain working for the ambulance service in her substantive position as medical director.

Prior to joining the South Central Ambulance Service in 2016, Mr Astle had a career in the British Army and was a lead role as a strategist and planner for operations in Afghanistan.

His final role was as chief operating officer of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency.

Since retiring from the Army, he has held a number of senior operational and leadership roles in both the public and private sectors.

These have included director roles in Border Force, on the London 2012 Olympics, as chief operating officer of Her Majesty’s Passport Office and, most recently, vice president of Menzies Aviation.

David Astley, chairman of the trust welcomed Mr Astle to his new role.

He said: "I am delighted that we have made this appointment and I look forward to working closely with Philip to continue to help drive the organisation forward.

“I know that his experience at South Central Ambulance Service and his variety of public and private sector experience will be of real benefit to the trust.

“I would like to thank Fionna for stepping up to offer her expertise ahead of Philip’s arrival.

Mr Astle added: "I am greatly honoured to have been appointed to this role and look forward to working with the excellent team in place at SECAmb.

"I would like to thank both Daren and Fiona for their leadership and I know that we will build on their successes."