Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex elects new Chair
The Board of Trustees of UK Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) has elected Barney Burgess as Chair in succession to Dr Helen Bowcock
Professor Andrew Rhodes and Michael Docherty will also succeed Burgess as joint Vice Chairs. The appointments take effect from December 2021.
Burgess, who joined the Board of KSS in 2017, has a broad business experience, having worked for McKinsey & Co as a consultant before joining Tesco plc where he ran their grocery home shopping business and was a Commercial Director. Burgess is now a partner in a private equity firm, Hattington Investment Partners.
Significantly, in 2015, Barney’s life was saved by KSS when he collapsed with a cardiac arrest whilst running a half-marathon. KSS delivered pre-hospital emergency treatment at the scene before flying Barney to King’s College Hospital. Barney brings enormous passion and commitment to the charity which saved his life.
Rhodes was appointed to the KSS Board in 2019. He is Professor of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a past President of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Andrew is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign.
Increasing KSS’ impact and diversity
Docherty became a Trustee at KSS in 2017. Docherty was formerly Director of Digital and Supporter Experience at Cancer Research UK, leading the digital transformation of the UK’s largest charity and building its fundraising and event platform. Michael has extensive experience in the digital, media, telecoms, and charity sectors.
Bowcock joined KSS in 2014, and has led the charity through a period of significant growth, enabling KSS to increase its impact and to diversify its sources of income.
Burgess said: “I owe my life to KSS, and it is a real privilege to have been elected as the new Chair of the charity. Our reach, breadth of support and governance have never been stronger thanks to Helen’s excellent leadership. I’m very excited to be taking up the chairmanship of KSS in December, and I look forward to working with David and the Board of Trustees to continue Helen’s great work.”
Recently, KSS won Charity Times’ Charity of the Year Award during Air Ambulance Week.