Ellen Rule, who has been appointed following a “thorough” selection process involving local partners and NHS England, will take over in the spring.
Ms Rule will take over from interim chief executive Robert Mackie, who has been in the role since April after the retirement of long-serving chief executive Sarah Dugan.
Currently the deputy chief executive and director of strategy and transformation at NHS Gloucestershire, Ms Rule will start her new role on Thursday, May 1.
She has worked for the NHS since 2003, holding various senior positions in commissioning and provider organisations.
Ms Rule said: “I feel very privileged to be appointed as Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust’s new chief executive, particularly at this critical time as they move forward on the next stage of their improvement journey.
“I am really looking forward to meeting and working with Herefordshire and Worcestershire colleagues, stakeholders, patients, and carers across the health and care system.”
She added: “Every part of the NHS is under significant pressure at the moment and Herefordshire and Worcestershire are no exception.
“When I join the Trust in May, I’ll be focusing on making sure that we do everything we can to look after our patients and our staff to the highest standards against this challenging backdrop.”
Ms Rule’s approach in Gloucestershire was centred on collaboration with a wide range of partners, including the voluntary and community sector.
The trust has said that she has always placed a focus on preventing ill health, developing integrated person-centred care, and supporting people to maintain independence.
Mark Yates, chair of the trust, said: “I’ll be delighted to welcome Ellen as our new chief executive and I am really looking forward to working with her.
“The interview panel that oversaw the recruitment process was really impressed with Ellen’s approach to leadership and her very clear focus on patients, carers, and the staff of the trust; we were absolutely unanimous in her appointment.”