Management team | Circle Health Group

Paolo has been CEO of Circle Health Group since 2016, during a period in which the group has expanded to China, developed innovative integrated care and rehabilitation services, and the core business has achieved profitability. He recently led the buyout of the largest private hospital operator in the UK, BMI Healthcare, including a £1.5 billion transaction that delivered the sale and leaseback of 30 hospitals. Previously, Paolo served as Chief Financial Officer.

Prior to Circle, Paolo spent five years at lastminute.com, first as Finance Director and subsequently as Managing Director of various European divisions, where he spear-headed developments in the technology platform to transform loss-making businesses.

Paolo spent the early part of his career in the Virgin organisation, with three years as Finance Director of the 200-store Virgin Megastore business. Paolo has a Bachelor of Accountancy from Glasgow University and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Accountants for Scotland.

Mark O'Herlihy - Chief Commercial Officer

Mark is Chief Commercial Officer for Circle Health Group, having joined the team in January 2021. As previous Vice President for Healthcare, Life Sciences and Government for IBM and Watson Health, he brings with him a wealth of experience across many global markets.

Mark has over 25 years’ experience working across a range of senior leadership positions. From innovative start-ups through to global brands, he has an extensive track record of driving innovation and business growth.

Combined with substantial commercial experience, Mark also has a clinical background and worked in the NHS for over a decade. He is passionate about improving health and social care for everyone.

His focus is to drive further innovation in the business, discover new ways to improve the patient experience, and support the group’s efforts in achieving the highest quality outcomes for patients and key stakeholders.

Henry joined as Chief Financial Officer in September 2015 from a role as Group Finance Director of Mecom Group plc, a listed pan-European media group.

Prior to this, Henry’s experience was in the industrial and regulated sectors, as Group Financial Controller of DS Smith plc and Eastern Group plc, and an auditor and advisor with Price Waterhouse. Henry is a Chartered Accountant.

Paul is a part-time Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in Nottingham and a leading shoulder specialist. He first joined Circle Health in 2005, becoming Clinical Chairman of Circle Nottingham in 2013 and in 2016 was appointed Medical Director, Responsible Officer and Director of Circle Hospitals. He has practised at The Park Hospital since 2004. Paul has held roles in the British Elbow and Shoulder Society and the British Orthopaedic Association.

He leads our clinical strategy driving excellence in outcomes and experience for our patients and will equally work closely with the operating and commercial teams to enable innovation and deployment of technology in healthcare.

Karen joined in October 2017 as Chief Executive Officer, having previously held a number of senior roles within Netcare in South Africa.

As a Netcare Regional Director she was responsible for 23 hospitals with a combined 2,800 beds. Most recently she commissioned a 425 bed Public Private Partnership unit and 4 primary care facilities - the largest of its type in Africa - and engineered critical relationships with the Ministries of Health and Finance, the World Bank and the Development Bank of South Africa.

Karen has the benefit of understanding healthcare from both sides of the coin: she's been a practising clinician and has extensive hands-on operational experience of running clinics, hospitals and regions. Karen achieved her MBChB, a Masters General Practice (MPax Med) cum laude at Pretoria University and her MBA (cum laude) through the same university. Karen also holds a project management qualification.

Shane-Cobb_General-Counsel_Circle-Health-Group

Shane is General Counsel for Circle Health Group. His responsibilities include managing the legal function across the group's hospital, integrated care, rehabilitation, and international businesses. He advises the board and management on a wide range of matters, including acquisitions, financings, joint ventures, regulation, litigation, and corporate governance. Prior to joining Circle, Shane served as Vice President at KPNQwest in Amsterdam and worked for major law firms in Boston and London. He earned his JD from the University of Virginia and holds degrees from McGill, Yale, and the University of Cape Town.

Ben previously served as IT Director, having joined the company in 2017. Now moving into post as Chief Information Officer of Circle Health Group, Ben will be responsible for leading the introduction of new technology across the business as a key enabler for our future business success.

David joined as Director of Human Resources in January 2020, having held the role on an interim basis in 2019.

David has held a number of senior HR roles including Director of Organisational Capability and Change at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) where he was responsible for UK-wide human resource, estates, communications and media and information technology services functions. David is a Fellow of the Chartered of Institute of Personnel and Development.

Ben has spent his entire career working within the health sector, both public and private. Ben’s public sector experience includes spells as Chief Financial Officer and Turnaround Director for a large teaching hospital and Director of Finance and Performance for a Strategic Health Authority.

Ben moved into the private healthcare space in 2010, initially as Business Development Director for Circle and subsequently as Managing Director for Medvivo Group.

Ben has a particular interest in the opportunity to use technology to support the delivery of healthcare and has been involved two start-ups seeking to use disruptive technology to transform the delivery of services to patients.