Former finance minister and Labour party leader Wouter Bos has been appointed the new chairman of the VU university’s teaching hospital VUmc.

The hospital board fell apart last year following a row between specialists and a highly critical report from health ministry inspectors. The VUmc was also under fire for its role in a controversial reality television show.

Bos has been a partner at the KPMG group since leaving politics in 2010. He had special responsibility for healthcare and public sector issues.

The VUmc statement says Bos, and fellow new board member Chris Polman, will both be paid ‘in line with the law’ on top public sector pay. This is likely to mean a substantial pay cut for Bos, who is thought to have earned €400,000 a year at KPMG for a four-day week.