Accountancy industry veteran, Keith Hinds, to step into Chair role after five years as a Non-Executive Director on Sovereign’s Board
West Yorkshire-based health care cash plan provider, Sovereign Health Care, has announced that its Board has appointed Keith Hinds as its new Chair, subject to regulatory approval being received. Hinds, who joined the Sovereign Board as a Non-Executive Director in January 2020, will succeed previous Chair, Jan Fortune, who has stepped down from the Board after almost four years as Chair and nine years on the Board.
Neil McCallum, Sovereign’s Chief Executive, says: “On behalf of the Board and the entire Sovereign team, I would like to thank Jan for her leadership and counsel over the last few years. She has helped steer Sovereign through challenging times and she will be missed.
“I’ve worked closely with Keith since I joined Sovereign in late 2023 and am delighted that he is now stepping into the Chair role. This is a pivotal time for Sovereign as we start an exciting transformation phase for the business, which will see us evolve into a dynamic and innovative company. Keith’s experience will be vital in steering this change, making sure we provide even more value and service for our customers and continue to serve the health needs of the people of West Yorkshire.”
Keith Hinds is an experienced commercial Chartered Accountant, operating at a senior level in corporate restructuring, pensions advisory and as a professional pension Trustee. His career has spanned more than 45 years, with leadership roles at several of the UK’s largest accountancy firms, including more than 16 years as a partner at Grant Thornton and two years as a partner at Ernst and Young. Along with his Non-Executive Director role at Sovereign, Hinds is a Professional Trustee for Dalriada Trustees Ltd, which provides professional trusteeship services to pension schemes.
Keith Hinds says: “Sovereign’s services are more relevant than ever as people focus increasingly on health and wellbeing, but often require support to access the services they need. I am excited to step into the Chair role, working with Neil and the Board to build on what we already have and unlock new potential for Sovereign, its customers and local communities.”
Sovereign Health Care was established more than 150 years ago and is one of the UK’s longest established providers of health care cash plans for individuals and businesses, with approximately 67,000 customers across the UK.
Sovereign actively donates at least £500,000 a year through its Community Programme, which supports charities, groups and organisations that work to improve the health and wellbeing of those living in West Yorkshire. In the last 10 years, Sovereign has donated over £7 million to good causes both large and small, including more than £3.3 million to the NHS in Yorkshire.
For more information, please visit https://www.sovereignhealthcare.co.uk/.