A HEALTH chief is to co-ordinate multi-agency work aimed at improving people's quality of life.

Father-of-two Colin McLeod is the new chairman of the Middlesbrough Local Strategic Partnership, the body bringing together all the agencies and communities working for the future of the Teesside town.

The 50-year-old is chief executive of the Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust.

He joined the NHS in 1989 as an accountant with the North Tees Hospital and has since held several senior positions in the health service in the Tees Valley.

He takes over from Middlesbrough's Mayor, Ray Mallon. The vice-chairwoman is Kate Brown, vice-principal of Middlesbrough College.

Mr McLeod said: "I am absolutely delighted to be appointed to be chair of the Middlesbrough Partnership.

"I'm committed to taking forward this challenging agenda to make Middlesbrough a place in which people are proud to live and work.

"I am also delighted that the board at the Primary Care Trust has given me its full support to do this vital job."