New role for ex-Serco boss Rupert Soames
Former Serco boss Rupert Soames has been named as the new chair of medical technology manufacturer Smith & Nephew.
He will join the Smith & Nephew as a non-executive director in April and take on the role of chair from 15 September.
Soames replaces Roberto Quarta, who has reached the end of his tenure as chair and is due to leave the board later this year. Quarta became chair of the business in 2014.
Soames led the turnaround of the outsourcing business Serco during eight years in charge between 2014 and 2022.
He was boss of support services firm Aggreko before that and has also held senior roles at software company Misys and weighing machine manufacturer Avery Berkel.
Marc Owen, the Smith & Nephew director who led the search for a new chair, said Soames’ extensive experience would help the business grow.
"The board conducted an extensive search for a new chair and we are delighted to welcome Rupert to the board,” Owen said.
“We believe that Rupert’s extensive track record of value creation in global companies and deep understanding of corporate governance will help [CEO] Deepak Nath and his team deliver on their existing plans to grow the business and to improve its operational performance.
“I would like to thank Roberto for his unwavering commitment and support to the board and for his contribution and service to the ccompany during his tenure.”
Smith & Nephew makes equipment such as wound dressings and hip and knee replacements.
“Smith+Nephew is a leader in the medical technology sector with a 167-year history of supporting patients to return to health,” Soames said.
“I am honoured to be the next Chair of the board and look forward to working with Deepak, the Smith+Nephew organisation and the board to deliver on Smith & Nephew’s great potential.”
Soames is a grandson of Winston Churchill and brother of former MP Nicholas Soames.
