Chief Executive of Haven House stands down after 10 years

Mike, who stands down from the role in July, is leaving to take over as Chief Executive at Jersey Hospice Care. The Hospice currently provides In Patient and community care for adults as well as a bereavement and emotional support service and strong community education programme. In the last few years, they have extended their day services to support children and young people and are hoping to further extend that specialist support through the creation of a purpose built unit adjacent to the existing Hospice. 

Frances Daley, Haven House Chair, said: ''Over the past decade, Mike has made an exceptional contribution to the success, growth and development of Haven House. On behalf of the Board I would like to thank him for all he has achieved in his time as Chief Executive.''

We will miss him hugely but I know that his legacy will remain in the form of the fantastic team at Haven House who will continue their work to ensure the children and families we support are helped to maximise the quality of their lives.

“We have already started thinking about the process to recruit a new permanent Chief Executive but inevitably these things can take time and we want to ensure that Haven House recruits the right person into the role. I am therefore very pleased that Richard Penney, our Director of Finance, will be stepping up as Interim Chief Executive.”

Mike has always been ‘hands on’ and could be found regularly volunteering with the team at events, regularly visiting the hospice shops, engaging with the children and talking with their families, and even supporting overnight shifts in Care. He established the charity’s Dads’ Group – a support group specifically for hospice dads to share their experiences and challenges. 

In more recent months he was part of an epic walk from John O’Groats to Land’s End raising over £100,000 for the hospice. And let’s not forget the many times he has raised a smile or two dressed as the hospice’s mascot Henry.

Mike added: ''The last 10 years have been the best by far of my working life . I am and will always feel very proud of the achievements and progress we have made over that time in raising the profile and income of the charity, and in delivering so much more to so many more children and families for whom Haven House makes a massive difference.''

Haven House will always remain in my heart and I will continue to follow the hospice’s progress with huge interest and passion.