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Our Kind Care Management Team

HC-One is proud to introduce its distinguished Kind Care Management Team

HC-One, the Kind Care Company management team share a wealth of experience in health and social care having worked in senior roles with independent care sector providers.

James Tugendhat

Chief Executive

James joined as Chief Executive in September 2020; he cites one of the key reasons for joining was HC-One’s commitment to being the Kind Care Company. He is working with the team to foster a culture that actively encourages simple kindness in everything we do, and to deliver the company’s ambitious mission of being the ‘first choice’ care home, for Residents, Relatives and Colleagues in every community served.  
 
James has worked across a wide range of sectors, having started his career in consumer and financial services, before holding leadership roles in healthcare and the broader care sector. Most recently, he led the European and international division of US-based Bright Horizons. Prior to that, he spent a number of years with Bupa where he worked across several parts of the group, including leading Bupa’s NHS commissioning effort. He has also been President and CEO of Boston-based Health Dialog, a ground-breaking health analytics and disease management business acquired by Bupa. James is also Non-Executive Director of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. 

David Smith

Chief Financial Officer

With HC-One since its 2011 inception, David has a wealth of financial experience and expertise following ten years working for Price Waterhouse Cooper in the UK, the United States and the Middle East.  He has over 10 years’ experience in the health and social care sector, having held a number of senior finance positions.  He has had a leading role in all of HC-One’s acquisitions and re-financings and played a key part in the company’s ever-increasing financial resilience.
 
A qualified chartered accountant, David also holds a degree in Physics from the University of Birmingham.
 

Liz Whyte

Director of Standards and COVID 19 lead

Liz Whyte is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years’ experience working at many different levels in the Care Home industry. Liz began her career with Ashbourne Senior Living as a Nurse, so fully understands the daily delivery of high-quality care.

Liz is passionate about the care of older people and has a proven track record in turnaround of services, delivering on both quality and financial results.

James Ilesanmi

Managing Director

James has nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, he has held various roles, beginning his career as a Carer. James has worked his way up the career ladder and was Director of Operations – England prior to joining HC-One in May 2019.
 
James has overall responsibility for the quality, regulatory compliance and performance of care homes in his group at HC-One.  Additionally, he supports the development of strategic operating plans that reflect longer-term objectives and priorities established by the HC-One board.

Rachael Junge

Interim Managing Director

Rachael began her career as a carer and has worked her way up the career ladder. Rachael was a managing director prior to joining HC-One in February 2018.

Rachael’s responsibility is to drive forward ‘kind care’, regulatory compliance and performance of the care homes in her group.

Stephen Butterworth

Managing Director

After starting his career in Manufacturing where Stephen held a number of leadership positions in Programme and IT Management working both globally and nationally, Stephen moved to the Health and Social Care sector in 2012 with HC-One.

Throughout his time at HC-One he has led a number of high profile transformation projects across many areas of the organisation as well as leading the High Impact Projects and Colleague Deployment Teams. Stephen was appointed Managing Director in 2017 and has responsibility for the quality, regulatory compliance and commercial performance of care homes in his portfolio.

John Kirk

Managing Director

After starting his career in financial services John moved to the care sector in 2010 where he held Director level roles in Allied Healthcare and Four Seasons Health Care, before joining HC-One in September 2018. John is also an Executive Director and Vice Chair at Scottish Care.

John’s role is to lead and inspire our exceptionally talented teams in care homes across Scotland to ensure we uphold our reputation as the most inclusive and supportive care provider in the country.

Ruth Yates

Managing Director

Ruth is a Registered Nurse and has been qualified for 28 years. During that time, she has had a number of roles in both hospitals and care homes. For the last 20 years, Ruth has worked in the care sector and as a Home Manager for 6 years before moving into operational roles.

Ruth’s responsibilities are to optimise the strategic and operational performance of the care homes in her portfolio.

Emma Charlton

Director of Business Development and Brand

Emma has worked in the health and social care sector for 23 years with a focus in sales and marketing roles but covering most areas of care home operation. Prior to joining HC-One in 2014, she was a Director at Caring Homes Group for 17 years gaining significant experience and expertise in all areas of care home operation.

She is responsible for the HC-One brand experience; helping people to make informed decisions when choosing a care home so that they can choose the best possible care and experience for themselves or a loved one and lead active and fulfilling lives; Emma works collaboratively with Colleagues from all areas of operations and leads on non-care services and care home repositioning.
 

Lucy Connolly

Director of People

Before Lucy joined HC-One in August 2016, she worked as a specialist resourcing consultant, helping global firms develop their recruitment structure. Lucy has worked in recruitment for 23 years.

She is responsible for Resourcing, Learning and Development and Employee Relations to help HC-One attract, recruit and retain the best possible talent to support both care homes and the central support functions. Lucy was the recipient of a presitgious award at the National Care Awards in 2019.

Karen Johnson

Clinical Director and Chief Nurse

Karen trained at Fife College of Nursing and Midwifery and has been privileged to support people as a carer, nurse, manager and now as clinical director and chief nurse to our care homes. Prior to joining HC-One, Karen worked at Southern Cross.

She is a practicing registered nurse and has worked in care homes for more than 20 years. 

Gary Reed

Property Director

After a brief spell as a fish monger and then a gardener in a care home whilst at college, Gary decided to become an accountant and qualified when he was 25. Soon after, Gary realised his future laid elsewhere so embarked on various Project and General Management roles within the rail industry (completing a law degree on the way). This led him to join a care home property team 14 years ago, progressing to his most recent role of Estates Director.
 
Gary’s role is to lead HC-One’s Property, Development and Health and Safety teams, striving to deliver a world class estate management service to HC-One care homes across the country. His team provide full operational support to HC-One’s home managers, so they are able to ensure the care homes are compliant, functional and safe, and that any refurbishments are carried out to a high standard.