New chair appointed to Atlas BFW Management

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals has appointed Graham Cowley as chair of Atlas BFW Management Ltd, the NHS trust’s wholly-owned estates and facilities subsidiary.

The Atlas board has also appointed David Robbins as Director of Finance following an interim period in the position.

Graham trained as a civil engineer at Sefton Council on Merseyside where the service was later outsourced to what would become Capita Property Services.

While still at Capita, Graham volunteered as a director of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, chairing the £750 million Growth Deal Programme and “investing many millions of pounds into Blackpool, so I know the town very well”.

Then followed being independent chair of the Blackpool Opportunity Area, a nationally-funded project to improve school inclusion, literacy and connecting young people with the world of work, which earned him an OBE in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

 He now works with Blackpool Pride of Place, the business-led partnership where building skills and education continue to be a major priority.

Graham said: “I have spent most of my life working between the public and private sectors. That means I’m sensitive and passionate about a service ethos but, equally, about the need for commercial rigor – and that’s the sweet spot for Atlas.”

David joined Atlas in September 2023 with responsibility for all financial, business management and commercial areas of the business.

 He brings significant business expertise and experience, including as managing director of a Northern Ireland based transport business, a partner at a UK top 10 accounting practice and in providing consultancy services to a range of NHS organisations.

David said: “I have really enjoyed being with Atlas. It’s an exciting time for our company and I hope to help make a tangible difference for our clients, their patients and staff on the journey ahead.”