Assura to stick with Murphy in chief seat

After nearly five months serving as interim chief executive of Assura, Jonathan Murphy has been appointed chief executive on a permanent basis of the Warrington-based healthcare developer-investor.

Murphy has been interim chief executive, when he was promoted from finance director following the death of former chief Graham Roberts.

Murphy joined Assura as finance director in January 2013 from Brooks Macdonald Funds.

As chief executive, he will earn £335,000 and has the opportunity to earn an annual bonus of up to 100% of his salary. He earned £235,000 as finance director.

Assura said the search will now begin for a new finance director.  Simon Laffin, non-executive chairman, said: “During the last few months as interim chief executive, Jonathan Murphy has proved himself a very capable leader of Assura.”

Murphy said in a statement: “Assura continues to trade well with further strong growth, as shown by our recent trading update. I am very excited to get this opportunity to lead Assura as it creates value for shareholders and provides capital to the primary care sector, particularly now as the NHS needs more services from the sector to improve care for patients.”

Assura owns £1.2bn of primary care centres and GP surgeries.