Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity appoints a new Chief Executive

Gary Lawson has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity – he takes up his post on April 21.

Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity gives grants and raises funds for the improvement of healthcare and the benefit of patients and staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

Gary Lawson was previously Chief Executive of Sector Treasury Services, the UK’s biggest specialist public sector advisory firm, working with more than 400 clients in local and central government, charities, housing associations and Foundation Trusts.

He has more than 15 years’ experience as a senior financial management practitioner and advisor to financial and public sector clients, working for US investment banks Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan both in the UK and overseas.

Lady Rhys Williams, Chair of the Trustees of Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity, says: “We have great pleasure in announcing the appointment of Gary Lawson as the Charity’s new Chief Executive and we very much look forward to working with him when he takes up his post.”

Gary Lawson said: “I am excited to be joining Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity at this important time for the Charity, the hospital and the community.

“I look forward to building on the excellent work of the Charity’s outgoing Chief Executive, Diane Yeo, and working with hospital staff, management and the community.

“I want Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity to be recognised as not only an effective organisation but one which encourages innovation and excellence to make a significant contribution to improving and modernising of healthcare.”

For further information please contact Matt Akid (Head of Communications) at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on 020 3315 6828.

Notes to editors:

• Contact Matt Akid (Head of Communications) at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for further information, interview requests or photos of Gary Lawson
• Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity:
  • Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity gives grants and raises funds for the improvement of healthcare and the benefit of patients and staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital – it aims to provide added value rather than replacing NHS provision.
  • Projects funded by the charity include:
    • A Pharmacy robot which reduces dispensing errors and the length of time that patients wait for medicines
    • Incubators for babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
    • Customer service training for all staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
    • Hospital Arts, a visual and performing arts programme which is an integral part of the hospital’s holistic approach to healthcare
  • The charity is currently running a fundraising campaign to buy a new CT Scanner for the hospital and it is sponsoring the London Duathlon which takes place in Richmond Park on September 14.
  • Further information about the charity is available at www.chelwestcharity.org.uk
• Gary Lawson:
  • Gary has more than 15 years’ experience as a senior financial management practitioner and advisor to financial and public sector clients. He has worked for US investment banks Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan, both in the City and overseas. He was previously Chief Executive of Sector Treasury Services, the UK’s biggest specialist public sector advisory firm, working with over 400 clients throughout the UK in local and central government, charities, housing associations and NHS Foundation Trusts.
  • At Sector, Gary received contributor credit for his input into guidance documents produced by Monitor (independent regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) on Foundation Trust treasury management. He is a former member of the Healthcare Financial Managers Association’s (HFMA) Charitable Funds Special Interest Group and contributed to the HFMA’s publication ‘NHS Charitable Funds: A Practical Guide’.
  • Gary is also Vice Chair of Hyde Housing Association’s intouch support, a charity providing supported housing services to vulnerable groups across London and throughout the South East.
  • He lives in Kent and is married to Tricia with three children.