ST Luke’s Hospice has appointed a new chief executive.

The hospice’s Director of Finance, Peter Hartland, who has been Acting Chief Executive since last autumn, will take up the post permanently with immediate effect.

The appointment was welcomed by the chairman of the St Luke’s Board of Trustees, Andrew Coombe, who said it would give the hospice the stability and clear leadership it needed.

Peter studied engineering at the University of Bath before switching his focus to business, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1990.

He was Financial Controller with Courtaulds Textiles Brands and International Divisions, before moving into Higher Education with a post at the University of Sheffield.

He also spent time as Finance Director at the Students’ Unions of both The University of Sheffield and Leeds University.

Peter, who has lived in Sheffield for almost 20 years and is married with two daughters, joined St Luke’s, the city’s only charitable hospice, as Director of Finance in 2007.

“I am very proud to have been asked to lead St Luke’s,” he said. “It is also an exciting prospect, given the importance of what we do, and the challenges we face.

“I look forward to working towards securing St Luke’s future by ensuring we have an organisation at the heart of Sheffield’s community, providing excellent services with a unique touch.”

At the same time, there have also been some important changes to the hospice’s Board of Trustees.

Long-serving Chairman of the Board Andrew Coombe is stepping down from the post but will remain a Board member.

Current Deputy Chairman Alex Pettifer, who retires from his post as Sheffield Hallam University’s Director of Estates at the end of April, will become Chairman of the Hospice Board from May 1.

For all media enquires and up to date press releases about St Luke’s please contact John Highfield, Interim Communications Manager on (0114) 235 7559 email j.highfield@hospicesheffield.co.uk