Healthcare Locums makes board appointments

Recruitment firm Healthcare Locums has made three new appointments to its board following a period of turmoil at the company.


Recruitment firm Healthcare Locums has made three new appointments to its board following a period of turmoil at the company.

Recruitment firm Healthcare Locums (HCL) has made three new appointments to its board following a period of turmoil at the company.

Colin Whipp has been named as interim chief financial officer and chief restructuring officer having played a significant role in advising HCL since March. A permanent appointment will be made at a later date, according to a company statement.

In January this year, HCL suspended its shares on AIM with immediate effect and announced that serious accounting irregularities had been uncovered.

Founder Kate Bleasdale and finance director Diane Jarvis were subsequently suspended and HCL underwent an immediate investigation.

Andrew McRae, who was chief operating officer for HCL in 2009, has also been appointed to the board.

He oversaw the integration of Healthcare Australia Holdings (HCA) into HCL, which was acquired in December 2010, and will continue as managing director of HCA.

McRae was previously managing director of international operations at Hays and has spent the last six years in specialist recruitment.

Recruitment industry veteran Stephen Burke has also been brought in as group CEO. His most recent role was non-executive board director for Matchtech Group, the professional services recruitment company.

Burke also spent 24 years at recruitment agency Michael Page International where he was hired as an executive director in 2001.

In a statement, the board of HCL said the creation of a new management team is an ‘important milestone’ in stabilising the business.

Non-executive chairman Peter Sullivan comments, ‘This commitment, together with their combined experience, will be invaluable to the company as we strive to return to a stable and successful operating company, and build on our position as a leading international healthcare staffing business.’

The company has promised a comprehensive update to shareholders by the end of June this year which will detail 2010 financial results, current trading information and the outcome of the ongoing investigation into accounting irregularities.

Todd Cardy

Adelbert Swaniawski

Todd was Editor of GrowthBusiness.co.uk between 2010 and 2011 as well as being responsible for publishing our digital and printed magazines focusing on private equity and venture capital. Connect with...

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