Octopus Healthcare, part of the Octopus Group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Beirne as Director of Retirement, joining the business from leading housing association One Housing.
With over 15 years’ experience in developing and managing specialist housing for the elderly and vulnerable, Kevin was a Group Director for One Housing where he oversaw the successful launch of the Season and Baycroft older people’s housing brands.
Kevin joins Octopus Healthcare to the newly created role, heading up the existing retirement team, as the business accelerates its retirement investment and development activity.
Mike Adams, CEO at Octopus Healthcare comments: “We are excited to welcome Kevin to Octopus Healthcare. His experience and commitment to the sector will be invaluable and will enhance our senior management team as we look to rapidly increase our investment into the UK retirement accommodation sector.”
At One Housing, Kevin led on a number of revolutionary development and sector initiatives, including working with the Smith Institute to launch the influential think tank report: ‘Housing associations and the NHS: new thinking, new partnerships,’ which proposed that better integration of services should be led by using parts of NHS land for senior living and complex supported housing for people with long term conditions.
Kevin Beirne says: “We know from experience that when services for the elderly and vulnerable are integrated in the early design stages of a development, then the care providers – NHS or private – will have the right foundations to deliver better care, lifestyles and choices to residents. This process was fundamental to my work at One Housing and it dovetails perfectly with the ambition and values of Octopus Healthcare. This new role at Octopus Healthcare offers me great opportunities to use all my experience in a positive way.”
Richard Hill, Group Chief Executive at One Housing, said: “I want to thank Kevin for his many years of great work to secure One Housing’s position as the sector leader in housing and health. We are determined to build on this success and continue our track record of innovation, which brings huge benefits for the patients and the NHS.”
Kevin is a Director of ARCO (Associated Retirement Community Operators) and is a member of the NHF’s Delivering Great Homes Group. He was also a member of the Home and Communities Agency Board Advisory Panel for Vulnerable and Older People to 2013.
