In 1992 Professor Sam Moore walked into the offices of Central Manchester Healthcare Trust and told them 'I'm your new chairman', thus beginning a 14-year career as a non-executive which ended on March 31 this year.
When Stockport Primary Care Trust (PCT) was created in 2001, Professor Moore was appointed as chair. He has earned widespread respect for his work at both trusts, easing financial and management problems in his first role and then guiding the PCT through its early years.
He was offered the first chairmanship while working as Manchester University's acting vice-chancellor, a position which made him head of the university's medical school.
'They called to ask if I wanted the job and 24 hours later I agreed. Then I walked across the road to introduce myself!'
That was when the hard work began. 'It was a first-wave trust and had some problems, but we got the finances under control. The most challenging aspect was getting to grips with managing a structure rather than just administering it,' he recalls.
During his time as chair, Moore has experienced major changes in regulation. 'The way appointments are handled has been changed a lot by the Appointments Commission, so there is a lot more transparency and structure to the process. We're also working within a stronger framework with strong oversight from auditors and the Healthcare Commission.'
As he retires, he can reflect on many lessons learned. 'The most important advice I can give to any non-exec is to not intrude on the executive role. The moment that happens then there are problems: you have to know the boundaries.
From April, Professor Moore will focus on his work as a magistrate, and on lavishing even more attention on his six young grandchildren.
