HammondCare picks incoming CEO
Former banking sector chief Andrew Thorburn will step into the lead role from mid-June.
Not-for-profit health and aged care provider HammondCare has announced experienced banking sector leader and impact investor Andrew Thorburn as its next chief executive officer.
A former CEO of the National Australia Bank and the Bank of New Zealand, Mr Thorburn has also held senior executive roles at St George Bank, Commonwealth Bank and ASB Bank.
Over the last five years, he’s spent time working with entrepreneurs in impact investing – which refers to investing for social and environmental return rather than just profit – and NFPs. These roles include executive director of NFP social impact investment fund For Purpose Investment Partners – which called out aged care as a target sector for impact investments.
Mr Thorburn – who will replace outgoing CEO Mike Baird when he departs in June – has an MBA from Durham University and a commerce degree from the University of Auckland Business School.
Board chair Kok Kong Chan said Mr Thorburn’s extensive business and leadership experience would help HammondCare respond to both the growing challenges and wonderful opportunities of the fast-growing aged care sector in the years ahead.
“This appointment positions HammondCare well for the sweeping changes underway in the care of older Australians following the royal commission, Covid and far-reaching regulatory and compliance reform,” Mr Chan said.
Mr Thorburn, 58, said he was honoured to join the organisation. “I am inspired by HammondCare’s great history of responding to needs in areas as diverse as dementia, palliative care, homelessness, and the fast-growing area of care in the home.”
He said he was committed to building on Mr Baird’s investment in leaders, people and relationships while also bringing new skills and experience to help the organisation innovate to improve care and client satisfaction.
“A focus on people has been central to every role I have held and, together with the team, I will build on that as we serve residents, clients and patients,” Mr Thorburn said.
On a macro level, he said the doubling of Australians aged 65 and tripling of those aged 85-plus in the 40-year forecast along with the expected doubling of dementia prevalence by 2054 meant Australia needed to do more to address complex ageing issues like rising levels of dementia, mental health and loneliness.
“The aged care sector could benefit from new funding sources, greater employment of technology and continued innovation to resolve workforce shortages.”
Mr Thorburn will commence his new role with HammondCare on 17 June.
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