Dr Chai Patel CBE FRCP
Chief Executive and Chairman
Formerly Chief Executive and architect of the modern Priory Group, Chief Executive of Westminster Health Care Ltd and Chief Executive of CareFirst, Chai’s career spans more than thirty years at the most senior and influential levels in health and social care.
Chai is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and has been a member of government task forces for older people and for better regulation. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Open University in 2002.
Alongside his working life, Chai’s family foundation, the Bright Future Trust, is an active supporter of a wide range of organisations enabling young people to fulfil their potential and overcome challenges. In 2011, he was named ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the Asian Business Awards. In 1999, Chai was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to the development of social care policies.
Sir William Wells
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
Sir William has held non-executive roles in the NHS since 1968, and spent fifteen of those years working in social care. His career in the public sector has included roles as a Governor of the Royal Free Hospital in Gray’s Inn Road, Chairman of the NHS Appointments Commission (2001-2007), Chairman of the Commercial Advisory Board to the Department of Health (2003-2007) and Member of the General Council of the King’s Fund (1995 to date).
Sir William was awarded a knighthood in March 1997.
David Smith
Finance Director
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 around 10 years’ experience in the health and social care sector, having held a number of senior finance positions.
A qualified chartered accountant, David also holds a degree in Physics from the University of Birmingham.
John Ransford CBE
Non-Executive Director
In a public service career spanning over forty years, John Ransford gained extensive experience of personal social care, health and wellbeing and government at local, regional and national levels.
John spent fourteen years at the Local Government Association (LGA) which represents all local councils in England and Wales. After advising and leading on social care, health and public protection services, he became Chief Executive for three years until his retirement in 2011.
Since retirement, John maintains his interest of social care as a board member for a number of leading care operators. John was awarded the CBE for services to social work in 1997.
Bruce McLernon BA CQSW DMS
Special Advisor for Wales
Formerly Principal Officer (Mental Health and Learning Disabilities) for West Glamorgan County Council Social Services, Bruce was appointed Assistant Director in 1996 (Older People and People with a Physical Disability Services) with the City and County of Swansea. He then spent fourteen years working as Director of Social Care, Health and Housing in Carmarthenshire, Wales and was instrumental in developing collaberative ways of working, bringing together Social Services, Housing and Public Protection.
Bruce is a former President of the Association of Directors of Social Service, Cymru, and chaired the Mid and West Wales Health and Social Care Collaborative until 2014, when he retired from public service.