"It was a really successful and enjoyable experience from my side as the candidate. From the very beginning, I felt like I had a strong guide along the journey. Jonny did a really good job of managing me through the process and helping me to understand the role. He was proactive, always in touch, and provided guidance at every step."
"What stood out was how boutique and personal the experience was. You don’t feel like just another person in the process. You feel supported and represented. That made all the difference.”
"Looking ahead, we’re growing rapidly. Having a search partner who understands our space and talent needs will be crucial, and I can definitely see us continuing the partnership with Gilbert Meher."
— Andy Jones, CEO, Iris Care Group
Iris Care Group, a specialist provider of complex mental health care services backed by Ancala Partners, was entering a critical phase of growth and transformation.
The organisation needed a strong, experienced CEO to lead its next chapter, and was looking for someone capable of setting clear strategic direction, driving commercial performance, and building close relationships with both the clinical and executive teams.
The brief called for a leader with substantial hospital experience, a strong ability to engage medical teams, and a proven track record of managing stakeholder relationships at board level. Beyond that, the incoming CEO would need to drive forward cultural integration, strengthen governance and quality of care, and deliver growth through mergers and acquisitions.
We implemented a retained executive search strategy, led by our Director Jonny. The brief was taken directly from Ancala Partners’ Head of Asset Management, giving us a clear understanding of the commercial objectives, cultural context, and leadership style required for the role.
We reached out to our executive network to identify high-calibre candidates with the right mix of hospital experience, leadership, board-level experience, and cultural alignment. Andy stood out as one of the prime candidates. With a background as COO of Nuffield Health, he brought significant hospital and medical leadership experience, as well as strong commercial credentials.
From the outset, we took the time to understand each candidate’s motivations, career goals, and values to ensure the role was the right fit from both a professional and personal perspective.
We managed the recruitment process end-to-end, coordinated multi-stage interviews involving senior stakeholders from both Ancala Partners and Iris Care. We provided detailed briefings, regular communication, and hands-on support to keep the process well-coordinated and candidate experience front of mind.
Once Andy was confirmed as the preferred candidate, we supported the offer stage and onboarding to ensure a seamless transition into the role. The full process from initial search to offer acceptance was completed in just six weeks.
Andy was successfully appointed as CEO of Iris Care Group. The accuracy of the role briefing and the transparency of the recruitment process meant the transition into the new role was smooth, with no surprises or misalignments.
He stepped into the role at an important moment and quickly made an impact. Within his first four months, the organisation had launched a five-year strategy, was nearing its first acquisition, and had already started to deliver on key growth and operational priorities. Andy brought fresh energy and clarity to the role, helping to shape a leadership team that’s now well-positioned to deliver meaningful, sustainable growth.
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