David Prior, 47, will succeed the trust’s current chairman Tony Holden in December 2002. Mr Holden has been chairman since May 1999 and has been a non-executive director since April 1994.

Mr Prior, who is married with a son and daughter and lives in Norfolk, said: “I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to work with the thousands of skilled and dedicated NHS staff delivering high quality healthcare at the Norfolk and Norwich University and Cromer hospitals.

“The new hospital and new medical school in partnership with the University of East Anglia have been two remarkable achievements. I am looking forward to building on the trust’s growing international reputation for healthcare excellence”.

Mr Prior is a barrister and has a broad experience at a senior level in the business world, having formerly worked with Lehman Brothers, Lazards and British Steel, where he was commercial director.

He is also a governor of Fakenham High School and Sixth Form and Holt’s Edinburgh Road School for Children with Profound Learning Disabilities. Mr Prior was the Conservative MP for North Norfolk from 1997 to 2001. Mr Prior has no other ministerial appointments and will be paid £20,420 a year.