CEO Gary Lashko to retire from the Royal Hospital Chelsea
21st July 2023
The Royal Hospital Chelsea’s CEO, Gary Lashko has announced his retirement after eight years of working with the Chelsea Pensioners.
Gary Lashko, CEO at the Royal Hospital Chelsea has announced his retirement. He will stand down in March next year after eight years in the role.
Mr Lashko joined the Royal Hospital in February 2016 after an outstanding career in supported housing. The first civilian to be appointed to the role for over 300 years, he has worked first with General Sir Redmond Watt, the Hospital’s previous Governor, and now with our current Governor to ensure that the Royal Hospital’s record of 300 years of outstanding Veteran care would continue to thrive in the context of today’s challenging regulatory environment.
His eight years have been characterised by passion, enthusiasm and relentless professionalism, a daily commute from Cambridge and an extended residential spell during COVID when, in addition to providing the hands-on leadership to ensure the Hospital’s response to COVID was as effective as possible, he also got stuck in delivering meals and medicines to Pensioners isolating in their rooms.
Today’s Governor, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, said:
Gary has made an outstanding contribution to the Hospital ensuring that its character and traditions continue and thrive within the complexity of today’s business, charitable and care environments. Much of that has been detailed unglamorous and behind the scenes. Current and future Pensioners and Commissioners (the board appointed by the Crown to oversee and safeguard the Royal Hospital) owe him a debt of gratitude. He will be much missed, but leaves behind an enduring achievement and a model of service and leadership that will be hard to follow.
Gary Lashko, said:
I have always enjoyed my work and have been proud of all the organisations where I have worked. But I can honestly say that it has been an honour, privilege and the high point of my career, to work at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and to be able to serve the Pensioners and Commissioners, to lead such a talented and committed staff team and to get to know, learn from and be inspired by so many of our Chelsea Pensioners.
I want to thank everyone I’ve worked with for their support, encouragement, achievements and the joy that we have shared together over these last 8 years.
I leave knowing that with such a talented leadership team: Commissioners, Governor and my Executive Board that the Royal Hospital Chelsea will continue to make its outstanding contribution to the Veteran community and to the Nation.
