Mr Andrew Larpent OBE
CEO, Southern Cross Care (SA & NT)
Andrew has had a distinguished leadership career across the military, Government, the private and not for profit sectors.
With an Honors degree in Estate Management and graduation from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Andrew had a 25 year career in the British Army including leading battle forces in the First Gulf War, being awarded the OBE for his achievements. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Andrew moved to the private sector in management of an international plastics manufacturer, for which he was subsequently made a director. He then took the CEO position for four years at the national charity Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood before being appointed CEO of Somerset Care, one of the largest not for profit companies in the UK care sector, with an annual turnover of £75M. The Group operates 44 care homes for the elderly and disabled plus over 40,000 hours of home care per week. Overall the Group employs approximately 4,500 staff members.
At Somerset Andrew pioneered NFP/Private joint ventures in care delivery in retirement villages, with the UK’s largest village builder McCartney and Stone.
At the same time Andrew was a long time Chairman of the national Care Forum as well as a Board member and Vice Chairman of the US based International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA).
He joined Southern Cross Care (SA & NT) in 2011 as CEO.
In 2013 he was instrumental in the establishment of Commonwealth Association for the Ageing (CommonAge) to advance the interests of older people through building capability and capacity in health and care services throughout the Commonwealth.