Investors
Leadership & Committees
Leadership
Board of Directors
The Board comprises six directors, including three independent non-executives (including the Chair), bringing a wide range and blend of expertise and experience.
Julia Robertson
Independent Non-Executive Director and Chairman
Biography
Julia is a highly experienced global and multi-sector business leader whose experience spans managed services, staffing, support services and healthcare to both public and private sectors.
With a demonstrable track record of creating long-term sustainable value through leading strategic and cultural change and delivering both organic growth and value creation through complex M&A, Julia recently stepped down from her Executive role at Headfirst Global plc/Impellam Group following a PE-backed public to private transaction.
Julia now holds non-executive director roles in both public and private companies in the UK, US and global markets.
Term of office
Appointed as Independent Non-Executive Chair in September 2024
Jonathan Thomas
Chief Executive Officer
Biography
Jonathan is an experienced board level executive who joined the business in 2013 when it was a trading division of Atos IT Services, subsequently leading the business through a private equity backed management buyout in 2015 with the backing of CBPE Capital, which culminated with a trade sale to Marlowe PLC in January 2022, generating a 6.5x money multiple of CBPE’s original investment.
Jonathan has overseen the growth of the business from approximately £28 million turnover in 2013 to the industry leader in Occupational Health and Wellbeing with over £100 million in revenues in 2024, through both organic growth and M&A strategy. Most recently he led the business to successfully integrate 12 acquired businesses.
Jonathan is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants with 17 years of experience in Healthcare, IT, and outsourcing.
Prior to Optima Health, Jonathan worked for six years at Computer Sciences Corporation (now DXC Technology). Latterly, he spent two and a half years at Atos IT Services, where he was Finance Director for the occupational health business, and health IT outsourced contracts.
Term of office
Appointed as CEO in October 2022
Heidi Giles
Chief Financial Officer
Biography
Heidi joined Optima Health in 2018 as Finance Director and moved into the role of CFO in 2022.
Heidi held several senior financial roles prior to joining Optima Health including Head of Finance for HomeServe UK, Senior Finance Manager at Unilever and experience at Goldman Sachs.
Heidi obtained a Law and Commerce (Finance) degree from Canterbury University New Zealand and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in 2005 whilst working in audit for Deloitte.
Term of office
Appointed as CFO in October 2022
Adam Councell
Independent Non-Executive Director
Biography
Adam has extensive experience in business-to-business services and acquisition-led growth strategies and is a qualified accountant (CIMA).
Adam has served as Group CFO of Marlowe PLC since October 2021. Prior to this, he held the position of CFO at Fuller, Smith & Turner plc, the pub and hotels business, from 2019-2021 and he was also CFO at Restore plc from 2012-2019, where he played a leading role in the development of the group into a leading office services provider. Adam also worked as the Finance Director – Business Services at Rentokil Initial from 2003 to 2012. Adam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Warwick. Adam was appointed as a non-executive Director of the Company at its incorporation in 2022.
Term of office
Appointed as Independent Non-Executive Director in September 2024
Michael Ettling
Independent Non-Executive Director
Biography
Mike holds substantial non-executive experience and sector knowledge in recruitment, IT services and software. Mike has been CEO of Unit4, a cloud-based enterprise resource planning provider, since 2019. Prior to this, he has had an extensive career in global technology businesses in senior roles including at SAP SucessFactors, NorthgateArinso, Unisys and Synstar. Mike has also served as a Non-Executive Director with Topia Inc, a Silicon Valley cloud relocation software business, Impellam PLC, an AIM listed recruitment business and NCC Group, a cyber security company.
Mike holds a master’s degree in finance from the London Business School and is a graduate of the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. He is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Term of office
Appointed as Independent Non-Executive Director in September 2024
Simon Arnold
Non-Executive Director
Biography
Simon acted as CEO of Optima Health Group Limited from 2018-2022 following which Simon acted as consultant to the business. Simon also acts as Non-Executive Director for technology enabled care (TEC) Services Association and is a trustee at Carers’ Resource. Prior to this, Simon was a member of the Board of Aviva UK Health, and Managing Director of Tunstall Healthcare (UK) Limited from 2011 – 2014. He was also a Commissioner for the Government’s Commission on Residential Care.
Simon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Science from the University of Warwick.
Term of office
Appointed as Independent Non-Executive Director in September 2024
Committees
The Board has delegated specific responsibilities to the Audit and Risk, Renumeration, Nomination and Disclosure committees as outlined below.
Audit and Risk Committee
Adam Councell (Chair)
Julia Robertson
Mike Ettling
The Committee works to a structured programme of activities focused on the Group’s reporting cycle, principal risks and future strategy. Robust internal controls and risk management systems ensure the resilience of the Group, while remaining operationally agile and adaptable. This work is ably supported by our External Auditors, Deloitte, and our Internal Auditors, RSM.
Remuneration Committee
Mike Ettling (Chair)
Julia Robertson
Adam Councell
Simon Arnold
The Remuneration Committee reviews the performance of the Executive Directors and other senior management and sets the scale and structure of their remuneration and the basis of their service agreements with due regard to the interests of Shareholders. In determining the remuneration of the Executive Directors, the Remuneration Committee seeks to attract and retain executives of the highest calibre. No Director is permitted to participate in discussions or decisions concerning their own remuneration.
Nomination Committee
Julia Robertson (Chair)
Adam Councell
Mike Ettling
The Nomination Committee is responsible for reviewing the structure, size and composition of the Board, preparing a description of the role and capabilities required for a particular appointment and identifying and nominating candidates to fill Board positions as and when they arise.
Disclosure Committee
Julia Robertson (Chair)
Adam Councell
Mike Ettling
The Disclosure Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities in respect of the timely and accurate disclosure of all information required to be disclosed to meet the legal and regulatory obligations and requirements arising under MAR and the AIM Rules for Companies.