Leading North East dementia care provider Craig Healthcare has appointed a group finance director as it looks to drive growth.
Ian Massey, previously a relationship director at Santander, joins Lucy Craig, managing director of Craig Healthcare and the senior management team, to deliver an ambition of the acquisition or build of a new care home in the next 12 to 18 months.
A prominent figure in the North East banking and financial sector, Ian has 35 years’ experience and has worked for high profile organisations including Alliance & Leicester, Yorkshire Bank and NatWest Bank. He leaves Santander after a decade, where he established a large portfolio of clients who, in the last five years, were specifically healthcare focused.
Lucy said: “Bringing Ian in as group finance director is a huge milestone for Craig Healthcare and where I want to take the business.
“We provide residential and specialist dementia care of the highest quality and that’s our USP – it’s what always has and always will differentiate us from other care provision across the region. Ian shares a similar ethos to me – care comes first; the rest follows.
“Everyone employed by Craig Healthcare is extremely passionate about care and future growth will always be centred around this.
“It’s a very exciting time for Craig Healthcare, creating a bigger opportunity to achieve more. I can’t wait for the new journey that lies ahead.”
Craig Healthcare owns two homes in the North East; a 50-bed care home in Longbenton, West Farm Care Centre which it acquired in 2015 and Cramlington House, a 63-bed home in Cramlington that was specifically designed to provide dementia care.
Lucy also owns Kinder Castle, an early years nursery based in Tynemouth and Ian is also responsible for Kinder Castle’s financial health.
Ian added: “Craig Healthcare has a very strong vision and bespoke social purpose and I am excited to join the organisation.
“Great care is the priority and running a business will always come second to that.
“My immediate objective is to ensure Craig Healthcare maintains its financial strength. Once I’ve got under the skin of the business a bit more, I will look to make small improvements to its financial position that will drive efficiency and stability.
“While the business is in good financial shape, I will assess business processes and seek the best value in existing partnerships while pursuing new funding opportunities.
“In order to improve, you have to change and that’s exactly what we’re going to do now that I’m on board so that we’re in a position to acquire or build a new care home by 2021.”