Experienced NHS manager to lead Parkinson’s UK

Parkinson’s UK has recruited experienced NHS director Caroline Rassell as its next chief executive.

Rassell has more than 20 years experience in management roles across the health service, including six years as chief executive of NHS Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group.

Her previous roles also include chief finance officer at NHS Property Services, deputy CEO and director of strategy at Community Health Partnerships as well as director of finance roles at primary care trusts in Essex.

Her most recent role was a temporary post this year as director of planning and operations at Versus Arthritis.

“Caroline brings a wealth of experience having overseen transformative and award winning programmes in the NHS,” said Parkinson’s UK.

📣📣📣 Parkinson’s UK has appointed @crassell2 as the new CEO.

She will join on 1 September 2021, taking over from Shān Nicholas who has been Interim CEO since January.

Click to read 👉🏽 https://t.co/i18NcZ4NGd pic.twitter.com/5woZBKXUII
— Parkinson's UK (@ParkinsonsUK) June 16, 2021

The charity’s chair Gary Shaughnessy added: “Caroline's experience in transforming services and engaging diverse groups in health care in the largest CCG in Essex will be of direct benefit to the Parkinson's community.

"In Caroline we've found a proven leader who will continue to make sure that the needs of people with Parkinson’s are at the heart of everything that we do.

“Under her leadership, and with the full commitment of our colleagues, we will continue to push on with our ambitious aims in research and support, working towards finding a cure and improving life for everybody affected by Parkinson's."
Rassell, who is also a trustee at Farleigh Hospice and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, said: “I feel very lucky to be joining Parkinson's UK and to be given the opportunity to be a part of its future.

“It's clear from everyone I’ve met and everything I've seen already, that at the heart of the charity is a collective of people with a passion to make a real and lasting difference to people living with Parkinson's, their families and friends.”

She takes over in September from interim chief executive Shān Nicholas.

The last permanent CEO at the charity was Steve Ford, who left Parkinson’s UK after 15 years earlier this year to become chief executive of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.