Former RBS regional director to take charge at LNT Group
THE LNT Group of companies, founded by entrepreneur Lawrence Tomlinson, has a new chief executive.
Matt Lowe has been promoted from in house, after spending three years at the company as group commercial director. Mr Tomlinson will remain the group’s chairman.
This move follows the care home deal with Anchor earlier this year, which was worth more than £100m and meant that LNT is debt-free.
Mr Lowe took a prominent role in the LNT business, Ideal Carehomes, after the deal was completed and is now looking at other areas of the business.
Mr Tomlinson said: “I’m really pleased to have Matt take the helm of the business. He has been an important part of LNT for many years and I know he will continue to develop the businesses in line with my vision.
“My role will now be more strategic and forward planning, in line with a traditional chairman’s position.”
Mr Lowe said of his appointment: “We completed the Anchor deal and a lot of people were and are moving over. It made perfect sense to do everything following this, once the dust had settled.
“I’ve had a broad brief during my time here and it evolved to the point where I’ve been involved in all the businesses in the group, so this is a natural progression for us.”
Having met Mr Tomlinson when he was a regional director at the Royal Bank of Scotland, and LNT was a client, Mr Lowe said: “We’ve had a long and successful working relationship.”
“I don’t think it’s about Lawrence handing over the reins, it’s about us having more horsepower. It’s his name above the door. I’m here to deliver our shared vision with complementary skills.
“Lawrence will be able to turn his resources to areas where he can add value, and the two of us together is a better package than just one or the other.”
Though future plans remain under wraps, there are plans in the works to grow the business. After the Anchor deal, the firm has fewer care homes under its brand, retaining 16 sites overall.
Mr Lowe said; “One of the things we were thinking about is rewarding staff, and getting the national living wage in care industry. We want to manage and deliver a better package for staff and those that live with us.
“Another objective I have is to engage the business again around the family feel we have had, and make sure every one of our businesses is delivering.
“But it’s a question of evolution, not revolution, and we’ll be looking at growth strategy in the coming months, we want to build the business and build it quickly and efficiently.
“It’s been a challenging few years for everyone but the one thing I can say is that it’s been enormous fun, and I’m delighted to be here.”
