Mike Parsons (Barchester Healthcare)

Mike Parsons

Mike Parsons (born 25 August 1950) is a British entrepreneur, best known for founding Barchester Healthcare the UK's third largest provider of care homes. He retired as CEO in 2013.^[1]

Education

Parsons read economics at Sussex and Oxford Universities and became a management consultant. He subsequently took an MBA at London Business School and the Diploma in International Management at Hautes Etudes Commerciales, Paris and the Graduate School of Business Administration on Wall Street.

In September 2011, at a conferral ceremony at New College, Oxford, Mike was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).

Early career

He was a founding director, share holder and managing director of a top London advertising agency (KHBB) which he and his partners sold to Saatchi & Saatchi in 1985 thus becoming a major shareholder in that company. He worked at Saatchi for five years and was Chief Operating Officer of the international network. During this time he rationalised the Saatchi International network which involved the merging of many people businesses. In 1990 he sold his shareholding and left the company.^[2]

Recent awards

On 31 May 2012, Parsons was recognised for ‘Outstanding contribution by an individual’ by the HealthInvestor Awards. The judging panel, which included former health ministers Lord Ara Darzi and Lord Hutton of Furness, said that Mike Parsons was a “champion of high quality care and an influential spokesman for the sector… he demonstrates integrity, passion and a genuine desire to make a difference”.

In December 2011, Parsons was voted the second most influential person in Healthcare in the UK at the HealthInvestor Power fifty awards. 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.

In December 2010, Parsons was awarded 'Care Personality of the Year' at The National Care Awards. Parsons was voted Man of the Year in Over 50's Housing Sector in the UK in 2009 (UK Over 50's Housing Awards 2009) and again in 2011.

Also in 2010, Parsons received the London Business School’s annual Alumni Achievement Award.

Charitable Foundation

Parsons is Chairman of the Barchester Foundation. He also has teamed up with Richard Branson to provide five under-privileged South African school pupils the chance to attend Stowe School. The 'Branson Scholars' as they are known have their fees paid for.

References

1. Learner, Sue (2014). "Ex-chief of Four Seasons Health Care to become boss of Barchester care homes". homecare.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
2. Hesse, Jason (2014). "Mike Parsons: You're in good hands | Page 1 - Real Business". realbusiness.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2014.