Community Integrated Care (CIC), one of the UK’s largest social and healthcare charities, has appointed Neil Matthewman as its new chief executive.

Matthewman’s background is in the NHS, having held various roles including managing director for health services at NHS Blackburn with Darwen Care Trust Plus.

He was responsible for the integration of NHS commissioning services with those of the local authority, resulting in an annual transfer of £85m of funds to the PCT.

CIC group chair Simon Attwell said Matthewman was the right person for the role, “especially in the current economic climate where a commitment to strengthening quality services and building solid relationships with Local Authority and PCT partners is needed”.

Matthewman himself added: “Service provision is something I have been passionate about all my working life, so I am very excited about leading CIC in the next phase of its development.”

In the 2009/10 financial year, CIC reported an annual income of £94.7m.