19th Apr 2017
Today we welcome our new CEO Jonathan Jenkins to the team. In his role, Jonathan will provide strategic leadership and direction for our charity, continuing to ensure it is well administered and builds on growth in both operational capability and revenue.
Meanwhile, our charity is also launching 'Working Smarter Together for Our Patients', our new strategic direction for the next five years, which Jonathan will be responsible for driving forward. Our charity's focus will be on further improving patient care, developing long-term pre-hospital emergency medical expertise through The Institute of Pre-Hospital Care, working more efficiently, improving the percentage spent on frontline operations, and enhancing sustainability and resilience as an organisation.
Commenting on his new role as Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Jenkins said:“I have followed the extraordinary progress of London’s Air Ambulance over the past few years as it became one of capital’s most iconic charitable brands. The charity has already achieved so much, but I am excited to push it even further. I want to thank everyone who has been involved with the charity for all they have done.
“I have come to the charity as it outlines its new strategic direction and will be focused on supporting the teams in delivering this. I plan to spend my first months really talking and listening to the people who make up the organisation, including the clinical, operational and fundraising teams, volunteers, supporters and partners and will take the time to gain a deeper understanding of what is needed through them. Through forming new relationships, strengthening existing ones, and building on what we know we do well, we will take this inspirational charity to new heights”.
Mark Vickers, Chairman of London’s Air Ambulance said:
“I am delighted that we have appointed Jonathan to lead the charity as its new CEO. We look forward to seeing Jonathan use his impressive talents to act as an inspirational leader, a key spokesperson and a passionate advocate for our organisation. The tragic events of the last few weeks have reinforced the vital role the charity plays in serving the people of London. Jonathan will play a significant part in helping the charity to fulfil that responsibility.”
About Jonathan Jenkins
Jonathan joins our charity from Social Investment Business, where he led a number of successful programmes resulting in over £250m of investment into charities and social enterprises. He has also served as a trustee for mental health specialist Bright and the Ethex positive investment platfrom.
Jonathan had a keen interest in London's Air Ambulance before taking on this role. In the past he has volunteered for bucket collections and last year he raised an incredible £17,000 for our charity by taking part in the 250km Marathon des Sables desert ultra-marathon. He will be taking part in the race again next year, running the equivalent of nearly 6 marathons in 6 days, and is currently preparing for the 2017 London Marathon - all to raise vital funds for London's Air Ambulance.
About 'Working Smarter Together for Our Patients'
The past five years have seen transformational growth in every aspect of our charity, especially in the enhancement of front-line operations and service delivery capability. Our second helicopter is in operation and our charity now operates extended daylight flying hours, ensuring all patients have the best possible chance of recovering from a critical injury. The charity appointed a Patient Liaison Nurse, who assists London's Air Ambulance patients with their transition back to independent living, and established The Institute of Pre-Hospital Care - the world's first - to further drive excellence in global pre-hospital care standards and practice through research, innovation, training and education.
Our charity's strategy over the next five years will focus on further improving patient care, developing long-term pre-hospital emergency medical expertise through The Institute, working more efficiently, improving the percentage spent on front-line operations, and enhancing our sustainability and resilience as an organisation. Charities are operating in an unpredictable environment, which poses a challenge to our sustainability given the increased cost of delivering our extended service in a city as large as London. Despite our success, there can be no room for complacency. Going forward our charity needs to develop new and creative funding solutions while nurturing existing income streams. We will be more agile, use our resources more effectively and leverage digital technologies. This will allow us to continually improve our service in partnership with Barts NHS Trust and the London Ambulance Service to ensure it meets the needs of people across London.