Mike Parsons, Chairman of the Barchester Healthcare Foundation

Coming from a background in advertising, where he was chief operating officer of Saatchi & Saatchi, Mike Parsons has transformed Barchester from a single Care Home operator to a billion pound organisation with 200 homes throughout the UK. Following two years of research in the US where he studied their health facilities and business practices, he returned and set up Country life Care which merged with eskgrove in 1994 to form Barchester. Since then the group has grown to cater for more than 10,000 people across 200 locations. Mike is now group chief executive for Grove, Barchester's parent company, and is responsible for the continued development of the Grove Group both in Britain and in the international market. He is also a strong voice on residential and social care policy and remains one of the most active and influential figures in the care sector.

Mike was voted fourth 'most influential' person in the independent sector by the readers of Health Investor for the Health Investor Power Fifty 2010 awards (up from 5th in 2009). This year, Mike was also honoured with the London Business School's annual Alumni Achievement Award. The award - one of the most prestigious distinctions the London Business School bestows - recognises a member of the alumni community "who has been very successful in business, politics, academia or within the community, and is a recognised leader in his/her field". Following a nomination it is voted on by the Business School's 30,000 alumni members.

In March 2010, Barchester was recognized in the Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies To Work For and was also named in the Britain's Top Employers rankings. 

Other achievements include the Special Contribution Award at Pinders Healthcare Design Awards and the company also scooped the top award in three categories at the national Workforce Development Awards ceremony. In December 2010, Mike was awarded 'Care Personality of the Year' at The National Care Awards. The awards, sponsored by Caring Times, are recognised as the number one awards event for long-term care, promoting excellence in the care industry.