Bristol hospital charity Above & Beyond has appointed former media group boss Paul Kearney as its new chief executive officer.
Paul, pictured, will be responsible for driving forward the charity’s operational and strategic direction, working closely with University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. 
He will also ensure that the charity, which raises funds for Bristol’s city centre hospitals, continues its crucial support for their 840,000 patients, their families and the 9,000 staff who care for them.
Paul brings more than 25 years’ senior leadership experience in media and business, including a prominent role as managing director of Bristol United Press, former publisher of the Bristol Post and Western Daily Press. He subsequently worked for the Daily Mail Group in the South East and East Midlands before returning to Bristol to take up a consultancy portfolio.
With a strong interest in public health, Paul recently acted as chairman for Bristol Community Health, the region’s largest provider of NHS adult and children’s community health services, and is particularly keen to increase collaboration with healthcare organisations across Bristol to improve patient care and experience.
He replaces Sarah Talbot-Williams, who spent eight years as Above & Beyond’s chief executive officer.
Paul said: “The challenges facing the NHS with increasing demand, an aging population and the rising cost of gold standard equipment and drugs, will require innovative and collaborative solutions.
“The people of Bristol are amazing in their support for the charitable sector and Above & Beyond can play a crucial role in engaging the public and forming alliances with partner organisations who are committed to supporting the wider regional healthcare environment.
“We need to increase the awareness of what we do and create more opportunities for the public, patients and NHS staff to support this critical mission. Our goal is to help provide the best patient experience and health outcomes for the people of this great city and beyond.”
Paul today launched the first major appeal of his tenure with the Bristol Heart Institute Appeal at the hospital.
The appeal needs to raise £830,000 to fund projects and equipment, including a new echocardiography facility and an echo machine for the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
In addition to his position at Above & Beyond, Paul is actively involved in the local community as trustee at the Bristol Zoological Society. He has previously been involved in a wide range of community and charity organisations including the Princes Trust, Bristol Homeless project and the Happy City project.
Founded in 1974, Above & Beyond raises funds for all nine Bristol city centre hospitals, many of which are specialist centres for the South West region. Each year it raises £3m to make a real difference to patient care and hospital experience; creating welcoming environments, providing the latest equipment, supporting staff training and development, and funding innovative research.
Photo of Paul Kearney courtesy of Dee Robertson Photography
