The CEO and former NSW Premier (pictured centre with his daughters Cate, right, and Laura, left) has revealed that he will leave the Christian Not For Profit in the second half of next year.
Mike joined HammondCare in September 2020 – the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Aged Care Royal Commission – taking over from long-time CEO Dr Stephen Judd. He had previously spent more than a decade in NSW Liberal politics, serving as Premier between 2014 and 2017 before returning to the banking sector as Chief Customer Officer – Consumer Banking at NAB in Australia.
The only aged care CEO to be appointed a member of the Aged Care Taskforce and the cover of the ‘Leaders to Watch’ issue of SATURDAY for this year, Mike recently told SATURDAY that his three-and-a-half years in the aged care sector had been the toughest in his career.
However, he could now see hope for the sector given the impending release of the Taskforce’s Final Report and the new Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA).
“We now have an independent pricing provider who is going to tell you [sector, public, media] what it costs to provide quality care,” said Mike.
“Cabinets, Prime Ministers, not providing the funding for quality of care is something that I just can’t in any circumstances see them doing. So, finally, adding that, I think this is a significant reform that will give hope for the future.”
The CEO also credited supporting wage increases for aged care workers and helping HammondCare to grow by more than 50% since 2019 among his achievements.
The Australian is reporting that Mike does not have another role lined up following his planned exit and will enjoy a break after his departure.
But earlier this year, the CEO told media that he likely had one more CEO role in him.
“It would want to be challenging and interesting, and it would have to be something I can finish my career on,” Mike said.
There is also growing media speculation of a return to politics – watch this space then.
