Circle’s chief executive Ali Parsa has stepped down from his position at the company – the first private healthcare organisation to take over the running of an NHS hospital.
It is claimed Parsa made the move to “focus on other projects” thought to be around social entrepreneurship but said he was “immensely proud” of what has been achieved by Circle since it was founded.
As reported last month, Circle announced it was more than £4m in the red in its bid to turn around the failing Hinchingbrooke hospital.
The company reported the Trust had an in-year deficit of £4.1m in September 2012 – £2.2m higher than the company had projected at that point.
Looking ahead to March 2013, the company forecasted a deficit of £3.5m, three times the planned amount.
While Parsa will remain on the board of Circle as founder and a non-executive director, Steve Melton will take over the position of chief executive on an interim basis.
Melton is currently head of mobilisation at Circle and led on the final phases of bidding, negotiation, and mobilisation of the Hinchingbrooke contract.
Circle will now begin a recruitment process to select a “high calibre successor”.
Michael Kirkwood, chairman of Circle Holdings, praised Parsa for being “instrumental” in forming the “entrepreneurial vision and early development” of the company.
“Ali has been a pioneer developing a business model which empowers doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals to redefine UK healthcare delivery for the benefit of their patients,” said Kirkwood.
“Following on from the successful establishment of its business model which delivers patient value in both private and NHS healthcare settings, Ali and the Board have agreed that now is the appropriate time for him to assume a non-executive role. As many will know, Ali has a number of external interests and now will be able to spend more time fulfilling his passion for social entrepreneurship.”
