Chair at Voyage Care

Our client:

The UK’s largest provider of registered specialist care in LD, high acuity autism, acquired brain injuries, and other complex needs. At that point £210m revenue, c. 8,500 employees, 290 homes, and 1,200 further service users in supported living. Acquired by Duke Street Capital and Partners Group in 2014 –  after two previous PE turns – both of which were characterised by strong top-line growth, but brought the operational challenges of a business that had outgrown its infrastructure.

The challenge:

Conducting an extensive and thorough search across successful PE exits in the multisite healthcare arena, remaining alive to the many challenged deals and operational scandals that had dogged the sector in the preceding years, referencing extensively to avoid those tainted by clinical issues or unethical financial behaviour, and balancing commercial acumen with genuine empathy within the sector.

How our approach made a difference:

Placed Gavin Simonds, former Chair of Craegmoor and Classic Hospitals. Led wholesale change and development of Voyage senior leadership team, driving EBITDA from £34m to over £50m, and quality levels to Outstanding, taking the business from a near-distressed purchase to an exit-worthy state in seven years. Subsequently rehired to run CEO, CFO, and Commercial Director searches.