Wellgate – Chief Executive Officer Search

About Wellgate

Wellgate is a specialist care provider supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, and physical and sensory impairments across England. Operating through two distinct service arms – Wellgate Support, which delivers contemporary supported living services, and MNP Care, which provides residential care – the organisation has built a reputation for high-quality, person-centred provision that genuinely enables independence for those it supports.

With sites across Bolton, Worksop, Nottingham, Stoke, Sandbach, Kidsgrove, Bexhill, and Folkestone, Wellgate operates a growing portfolio of services with a turnover in excess of £25m. The business is privately owned and, at the time of this appointment, was at an important juncture in its growth trajectory, with a clear pipeline of new schemes, low agency usage, and strong staff retention providing a stable and scalable platform.

The Brief

Wellgate had reached a defining moment in its development. Having built a well-run, stable platform across supported living and residential care, the founding shareholders required a Chief Executive Officer capable of leading the business through its next phase of value creation and, ultimately, a planned exit process.

The organisation’s strong operational foundations including a healthy EBITDA position, a solid commissioner relationship base, and a committed workforce – meant the requirement was not for a turnaround leader but for a growth-oriented chief executive who could accelerate performance, build on what was already working, and position Wellgate compellingly for a future private equity or trade buyer.

The brief called for a commercially astute, board-capable operator with credibility across both the investment community and the social care commissioning landscape – someone who could speak the language of value creation without ever losing sight of the quality and values agenda that underpins Wellgate’s reputation.

Why Compass Carter Osborne

Compass Carter Osborne were invited to pitch for the mandate having previously supported Wellgate with a senior appointment. Following a formal pitch and subsequent proposal, the Board awarded the search to CCO on the basis of demonstrated track record, high success rate, and deep knowledge of the specialist care transaction environment. For a search of this strategic sensitivity – with exit planning as an explicit objective – that combination of sector and transactional knowledge was considered essential.

The mandate was led by Jamie Barker, whose expertise spans executive search across independent social care, learning disabilities and autism providers, and PE-backed care platforms preparing for investment or exit.

Search Process & Methodology

Compass Carter Osborne undertook an intensive, targeted search across the specialist care market. The research function mapped existing SME chief executives and high-performing senior operators with either direct experience of leading a business through a PE or trade sale process, or a clearly evidenced profile as a backable leader capable of driving EBITDA growth and investor engagement.

The approach was deliberately focused on operators who understood the dual mandate of Wellgate’s brief: the ability to hold and develop a values-driven care culture whilst simultaneously building the commercial infrastructure and management information that sophisticated buyers require.

Following rigorous face-to-face assessment of a longlist of 12 candidates, Compass Carter Osborne presented a final shortlist of 6 individuals to the Wellgate Board. Jamie Barker advised on and managed the client interview process, before overseeing an in-depth referencing exercise for the preferred candidate. The successful candidate joined the business ahead of the originally forecasted start timeline.

Outcome

Robert McAfee was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Wellgate. An accomplished operator with deep roots in the specialist care sector, Robert joined the business with the mandate to accelerate EBITDA growth, strengthen commissioner and investor relationships, and lead the organisation through its next phase of strategic development.

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Compass Carter Osborne is a specialist healthcare and social care executive search firm, working with independent providers, private equity-backed platforms, and investor-led organisations to identify and secure exceptional C-suite and board-level talent. From CEO and COO appointments to clinical leadership and non-executive directors, we bring sector depth and transactional knowledge to every mandate.

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