After more than ten years, Mountbatten Isle of Wight and Mountbatten Hampshire have said a fond ‘au revoir’ to retiring CEO, Nigel Hartley, MBE.
Staff, volunteers, friends and supporters gathered to wish him well in his next adventure, during an emotional week.
40-year career
Nigel has worked in end-of-life care for over 40 years, as director of supportive care at the St Christopher’s Group of hospices, at London Lighthouse (a centre for those living with HIV/AIDS), and also at Sir Michael Sobell House hospice in Oxford.
He joined Mountbatten Isle of Wight in 2015 and has been a significant champion for expert and accessible end-of-life care, building a reputation for innovation while challenging the status quo.
Nigel worked alongside the founder of the hospice sector as we know it, Dame Cicely Saunders.
An acclaimed author, he was made an MBE in 2023, for his dedication to end-of-life care.
In his time with Mountbatten Isle of Wight and Mountbatten Hampshire, Nigel welcomed around 3,000 staff and 4,000 volunteers.
‘Bold and edgy’
In speeches, he was called ‘bold and edgy’, and there was praise for his kindness, great leadership (including his open door policy, which encouraged staff and volunteers to drop by for a chat) and also for playing a fundamental part in making Mountbatten a leading hospice, with a model of care so successful that it has been regularly replicated.
For his part, Nigel urged staff, volunteers and supporters to continue to fight for people’s right to access dedicated end-of-life care, against a backdrop of financial insecurity and uncertainty.
He said he would miss the comradery – friends with whom he has developed what a hospice looks like, including championing earlier access to care and extending the hospices’ reach into the community, to ensure 24/7 support for those who need it most).
New CEO
New CEO, Becky McGregor led the tributes and will officially take on the role on 1st October 2025.
News shared by Lucy on behalf of Mountbatten. Ed
