Healthcare provider Benenden Health has appointed Mike Hay as its new chief people officer.
Prior to this appointment, Hay was the interim CPO at the provider for six months. His previous roles include CPO at Saffron Building Society, HR director at Nationwide Building Society, and associate partner at AON. He was also previously a director at Deloitte where he supported the healthcare sector, including the NHS.
At Benenden Health, Hay will be responsible for ensuring the employer has the workforce skills and talent to support its members, as well as building a positive, inclusive culture with wellbeing at its core. The provider said the new CPO will also support its adoption of AI.
Hay said: “I’m delighted to have been permanently appointed in my role at Benenden Health, and I’m enthusiastic about not only the direction the organisation is moving in, but also being so closely part of the development of talent here.”
“The employees at Benenden Health have shown me in such a small amount of time that they are experts in their field, and they use this expertise to benefit our membership during a wavering time in the healthcare sector.”
He said that the team has also proved to be dedicated to each other’s wellbeing as the employer recently celebrated a 31 percent uplift in diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) awareness internally. In 2024, the team also fundraised more for local charities than it has in previous years.
“All of these things and more show an engaged and empathic workforce,” he added.
Chief executive officer Tom Woolgrove said: “Mike has been a great asset to Benenden Health’s executive team since he joined in October last year and I’m very pleased he is now a permanent member of the team.
“Mike has wasted no time in leading in employee engagement activities, learning and development initiatives and being a positive advocate for maintaining a DEI culture in our workplace, and in our thought leadership activity.”
