The Royal Star & Garter Homes’ new Chief Executive, Andy Cole, took up his position with the Charity, which cares for disabled veterans, at the start of January. Andy takes over from Mike Barter, who has retired.

Andy has an established charity background, having previously held the post of Director of Corporate Affairs at Leonard Cheshire Disability. Prior to that, he led the national baby charity, Bliss, for eight years, for which he received an OBE in 2014.

Having steered both of these charities through challenging times for the sector, campaigning and innovating to improve people’s lives, Andy is well placed to implement the exciting changes that lie ahead for the Charity in its centennial year and beyond, including the development of the Charity’s new, purpose-built Home in High Wycombe.

Andy commented on his appointment: “I am delighted to have joined the Charity at this significant time in its long history. Building a new Home is an important project for the Charity and will allow us to offer support to a further 75 veterans. The last 100 years of specialist care has provided us with a unique foundation on which to develop our work for the future.”

Building on the Charity’s successes at the National Dementia Care Awards last November, Andy is determined to ensure that the Homes continue to offer exceptional care to disabled veterans and their spouses. He intends that the High Wycombe Home will learn from the examples set by the Charity’s existing, award-winning Homes, explaining: “We will nurture the existing ethos of specialist care across all of our Homes and reach out to other organisations, to share learning and best practice.”