Herman Tucker has been appointed the new chairman of Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB).

Mr. Tucker, who has held a number of key positions on the Island over the years, is currently chairman of the National Training Board (NTB).

His appointment comes as the BHB brings its numbers back up to strength following a series of high-level resignations in the past few months.

The board, which will oversee the rebuilding of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital over the next five years, has been without a head since Edwin Wilson stepped down for health reasons in mid-February. Mr. Wilson had only replaced his predecessor Anthony Richardson last November.

Bermuda Hotel Association chairman Michael Winfield and lawyer Wendell Hollis are also recruited to the board, replacing Francis Mussenden, who resigned due to work commitments, and Patrick Tannock, who also stepped down in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson called for Government to come clean about the state of the board in light of the resignations.

She welcomed Mr. Tucker’s appointment, saying: “They have had such a turnover in the board, with people going in and out. Good luck to Mr. Tucker — he’s a fine gentleman. I’m just hoping he will get the work done.”

Mr. Tucker was appointed NTB chairman two years ago. He is chief executive of Bermuda Security Group and is a former Department of Transportation permanent secretary and director of Bermuda Properties, the parent company of Tucker’s Point Club.

Mr. Tucker and Acting Health Minister Philip Perinchief, who announced the appointments yesterday, were unavailable for comment.