Leadership
team
Our leadership team are specialists in their fields with many years’ experience within the healthcare industry.

Ruth Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Ruth was promoted to Group Chief Executive Officer in 2020. She joined the Active Care Group as Chief Operating Officer (COO) following the acquisition in 2019 of Christchurch Group.
During her time as COO of the Group, Smith led a restructure of its six divisions spanning residential and supported living, care in the home, Christchurch rehabilitation services, Remeo respiratory services, case management and Jane Lewis Healthcare Recruitment Solutions.
Ruth began her career as a specialist brain injury rehabilitation nurse and has progressed into quality assurance, health and social care management positions.

Katy Lineker
Chief Financial Officer
As a Chartered Management Accountant Katy has held senior finance positions over the last 15 years with a particular focus on growing organisations both organically and through acquisition.
Having spent a period of her career within Corporate Development she focuses on delivering the organisation's strategy and maximising opportunities for growth.

Marc Prior
Group Commercial Director
Marc was promoted to Group Commercial Director in 2020. His role is to lead the commercial development and sustainability of the Active Care Group and drive the business forward during this exciting growth period.
Marc’s passion for the sector stems from personal experience, and he uses this, coupled with his 14 years of commercial and sales leadership experience across several sectors, to help develop and challenge those around him to achieve.

Nicky John
Operations Director, Christchurch Group
Nicky then moved into Governance Administration, prior to joining Christchurch Group in July 2017, as the Training Compliance Manager. In December 2017 she completed training to become a qualified Maybo instructor. Nicky then took on the role of Clinical Governance Manager, which involved continuing as the training lead and improving systems and processes throughout the Group.
In March 2020, Nicky was promoted to the Director of Operations and became the Nominated Individual for all Services.

Sharon Chrystal
Operations Director, Residential Division
Sharon joined Active Care Group as Operations Director for the Residential Services division, overseeing specialist services for people with acquired brain injuries and learning disabilities.
Sharon’s career in care began 17 years ago when she switched career paths from the legal profession to work with one of the UK’s largest providers of Adult Social Care.
Sharon’s role has evolved from direct management of care delivery across mental health, substance misuse and learning disability sectors into senior management, operational and development roles.

Amanda Pettitt
Operations Director,
Care in the Home Division
Amanda was made Operations Director of the Care in the Home division of Active Care Group, having worked as the Director of Operations for Active Assistance since 2006, supporting the delivery of complex care to clients in their homes on a nationwide basis.
Amanda has worked in the health and social care sector for over 25 years in a variety of roles and environments. As part of her current position she is the Registered Manager with the Care Quality Commission, Care Inspectorate Wales and the Care Inspectorate Scotland.

Jana Schulte
Managing Director, Remeo Healthcare
Jana is the Managing Director of Remeo Healthcare, Active Care Group’s specialist provider for complex respiratory care. Remeo aims to support people following critical illness with intense rehabilitation and skilled nursing input.
Jana joined Remeo in 2009 to launch its clinical operations in the UK, before establishing the partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’. She then went on to manage the development of the first complex respiratory care centre in Redhill, Surrey. Jana previously managed a similar service in Sweden, set up a community rehabilitation service and spent time working at the global headquarters of a medical device company with roles in marketing, strategy and business development.

Rob Preston
Managing Director,
Case Management Division
Rob joined the Active Care Group in 2018 as Managing Director for the Case Management division.
Before joining Active, Rob spent 15 years in the insurance world working at various insurers, Lloyd’s syndicates and intermediaries as an underwriter, consultant and Managing Director of a continental European based reinsurance business. During that time, Rob’s experience involved turning around underperforming business units, establishing new lines of business and responsibility for remotely based business.
Prior to his insurance career, Rob worked in Financial Services including founding and running an FSA regulated derivative business. Rob developed his leadership experience as an Officer in the British Army between 1985 and 1994, including operational tours in Northern Ireland.

Becky Garnett-Buchma
Staffing Solutions Director,
Active Care Group
Becky joined Jane Lewis in 2001 to launch the company’s complex care division. After the successful launch of the service, Becky became Executive Director in 2003 gaining a wealth of experience within the business, including; business development, tenders and contract delivery, the management of the HR and compliance functions and the delivery of financial & quality KPI’s.
In 2015, Becky took on the role of Managing Director, overseeing all day to day operations and driving the performance and strategic direction of the company. Becky is now Director of Staffing Solutions for Active Care Group, overseeing the division’s commercial staffing business at Jane Lewis and recruitment for the group as a whole.

Angie Wicks
Group Director of Governance and Quality,
Active Care Group
Angie has 30 years nursing experience in both management and governance roles. She has worked with a range of clinical specialisms, including learning disability and neurological conditions. Angie completed her Spinal Cord Injury Nursing Qualification in 1991 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and since starting with the Active Care Group in 2003, has continued to be passionate about making a difference to people with spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. Angie has worked across the field of neuro-disability in residential, hospital and community settings, encompassing a wide range of needs, including high dependency.
She is a member of steering groups for the Spinal Injuries Association, has been a volunteer for The Back Up Trust and has been a committee member for the Multidisciplinary Association of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (MASCIP) for a number of years. Angela is on the Executive Board of Directors and Clinical Governance and Quality Board for the Active Care Group.
on 01732 779353