Airedale Hospital has entered 2013 with a new director of finance as a member of its board.

Andrew Copley, deputy director of finance at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust for five years, stepped up to the post on January 1. The former director of finance, Sheenagh Powell, has been appointed to the NHS Commissioning Board.

Mr Copley, below, trained as a radiographer at Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospital. After working in this clinical field for two years at St Luke’s Hospital in Bradford, he developed his skills by moving on to financial and IT-related projects, helping the district general hospital’s preparations to become a trust.

He spent 12 years at Calderdale and Huddersfield Found-ation Trust as assistant finance director and senior finance manager for the former Calderdale Hospital.

He said: “I’m delighted with my new appointment – I’m not the typical finance director as I have a clinical background.

“My challenge for the New Year will be to make sure Airedale is not only financially sustainable, but that we continue to provide high quality services for patients in a climate that is difficult for all health organisations.”