Mike Parsons moves up Power Fifty list

Mike Parsons, Founder and Chief Executive of Barchester Healthcare, was just pipped at the post in this year’s HealthInvestor Power Fifty, which reveals the UK’s  most influential leaders in healthcare.

The list commends those demonstrating outstanding leadership with the power to guide and shape the healthcare agenda.  Nominations were conducted at the HealthInvestor Awards 2011 and the final decision, made by its readers, was announced at the Millennium Hotel, Mayfair.

Jim Naughtie, Radio 4 presenter and political correspondent, presented the award and said: “Many voters once again highlighted Mike’s passion for providing high quality care, perhaps the secret of the continued success of Barchester Healthcare. One of the residential sector’s only premium brands of true scale, the company has impressed Prime Minister David Cameron and many within the health service as a model of high quality, sustainable care provision. It has also recently been named one of the UK’s best employers.

“One voter described Mike as ‘an inspirational and motivating man’ while another said he was ‘the best employer to work for – he puts so much back into the business’.”

Earlier this year, Mike Parsons was awarded an ‘Honorary Doctorate’ at a ceremony at Oxford University. This was in recognition of his achievements of founding Barchester Healthcare and his significant investment in developing exceptional people over the last 19 years.

Looking ahead, the company is growing from strength to strength and its staff and residents are gearing up to celebrate their 20th anniversary next year. Barchester Healthcare is still the only care provider listed in The Sunday Times Top 25 Big Companies To Work For 2011 – its fourth listing - as well as being named in the Britain’s Top Employers rankings.