John recently joined Sonderwell as Chief Executive Officer. Armed with an MSc in Healthcare Leadership and Management, John has forged a successful career in the healthcare industry where he has led organizations and thinking across public and private sectors across UK and beyond. John earned his stripes in NHS graduate management training scheme and then went on to lead large business units in the UK’s prestigious academic health science centres.  After a number of years in the public sector, John decided to apply his flair for innovation and strategy to the broader healthcare environment working across health insurance, social care and private sector health care. John is increasingly in demand as a speaker:  he taught on an Masters programme at Imperial and spoke at the IHI International Forum on Quality and Safety.  John holds qualifications from Oxford, Insead, Birmingham, Manchester and King’s College London.

David Cole joined Sonderwell as chair in July 2023. He has 40 years experience in the health and social care sector, having started his career as a qualified mental health nurse.   Prior to joining Sonderwell, David was CEO of Vanguard Healthcare Solutions, in which role he oversaw four successive record years for the business.  Previously,  David held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Cygnet Health Care, one of the UK's largest operators of specialist mental health services. After leaving the NHS, David also held various senior positions within the Priory Group. He was Chief Executive Officer of Castlebeck during its more successful years, guiding the company through a successful exit by HgCapital in 2006, and finally serving as Chairman up until 2008. David has chaired Choice Care Group, Lighthouse Healthcare and Glenside Care Group for UK private equity investors. He has also served on the Board of Frosunda, a specialist Swedish care operator.

I began my career in banking, working for several of the big high street banks before a personal experience with a relative who needed intense complex care and support led me to make a change in my working life.  It was simply inspiring to see the level of dedication and support the care professionals gave her, and I knew I wanted to be a part of an industry that is so integral to people’s quality of life. For over a decade now I have held key commercial and operational leadership roles in some of the industries leading businesses, taking pride in developing services that deliver outstanding outcomes for the people who need care and support.  I believe in a people first culture, investing in people to help them fulfil their potential so that they, and our customers feel the ultimate benefit. I am very proud to be part of an enthusiastic and committed Executive Team at Sonderwell with the opportunity to work with so many fantastic care professionals, and together we aspire to provide an outstanding service, setting the standard for the industry.