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Bupa announces Evelyn Bourke is retiring as Group CEO, and appoints Iñaki Ereño from 1 January 2021

We are today announcing that Evelyn Bourke has decided to retire as Bupa’s Group CEO at the end of December 2020, and that Iñaki Ereño, currently the CEO of Bupa Europe and Latin America (ELA), will succeed her.

Evelyn has been CEO since 2016 and served as Bupa’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from 2012. Iñaki joined Bupa in 2005 and has been CEO of Sanitas since 2008 and CEO of ELA since 2016.

Roger Davis, Chairman said: “Our deepest thanks go to Evelyn for all that she has contributed to Bupa. She leaves the organisation in excellent shape. The hallmark of her leadership has been her systematic focus on Bupa’s customers, putting them front and centre right across the organisation. She has also transformed many of the fundamentals across the Group, investing in technology and operational resilience, and strengthening internal controls and risk management. This has served Bupa incredibly well in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having delivered substantive change, Evelyn has decided that the time is right for her to move onto the next phase of her career and go plural, developing a portfolio career.

“We are delighted to appoint Iñaki as Evelyn’s successor. Iñaki is a long-time member of the Bupa team, with an exemplary track record of leadership, innovation and growth across multiple business lines and geographies. His deep knowledge of Bupa and our sectors, his passion for digital and innovation, and his strong drive make him the natural choice to take Bupa forward. The Board and I are excited about what he will bring to the next chapter in Bupa’s development.”

Evelyn Bourke said: “Bupa is a wonderful organisation and it’s been an absolute privilege to have led the organisation through a time of significant transformation, challenge and change. I’ve loved it. This was not an easy decision to make, and in truth it will never feel like the right time to leave an organisation like Bupa. That said, I know that Bupa will go from strength to strength under Iñaki’s leadership, and I’m looking forward to working with him over the coming months as we make the transition.

“Our 83,000 people around the world are at the heart of Bupa’s success and I would like to thank everyone for making the eight years I have spent here so special.”

Iñaki Ereño, Group CEO designate said: "It’s an honour to be given the opportunity to lead Bupa. Evelyn and I have worked closely together over the years, and I want to thank her and wish her all the very best for the future, both professionally and personally.

“Health could not be more relevant to the world right now, and Bupa has a vital role to play. I know we have what we need to succeed in the future healthcare space. I am delighted to be entrusted with taking us forward and ensuring we rise to this opportunity.”


Notes to editor

  • Subject to regulatory approval, Iñaki Ereño becomes Group CEO and will join the Bupa Board from 1 January 2021. His successor as CEO for ELA will be announced in due course.
  • Evelyn Bourke: Evelyn joined Bupa as CFO in September 2012 from Friends Life where she was Chief Executive Officer of its Heritage division. Prior to this, she was the Executive Director responsible for strategy, capital and risk at Friends Provident and, before that, Chief Financial Officer. Evelyn is a Non-Executive Director of London First. She is a Non-Executive Director of the Bank of Ireland Group plc and a member of their Audit Committee and Nomination and Governance Committee. Evelyn holds an MBA from London Business School, and believes strongly in the growth and development of people.
  • Iñaki Ereño: Iñaki joined Bupa in 2005 and has held a number of leadership roles. He became CEO of Sanitas, the Bupa Group’s insurance and provision businesses in Spain in 2008, and in 2012 became CEO of the Spain and Latin America (SLA) market unit and joined the Bupa Executive Team. In 2016, SLA was expanded to Europe and Latin America (ELA). Today, ELA consists of Bupa’s businesses in Spain, Chile, Poland, Brazil, Turkey, Mexico and Latin America. Before joining Bupa in 2005, Iñaki held senior positions at the Telefonica Group and Carrefour as well as founding an online start-up. Iñaki has a degree in Law and holds an MBA from IESE Business School. He is married with three children.
  • Iñaki’s appointment followed a formal, rigorous process led by the Nomination and Governance Committee. This involved a global search and the assessment of internal and external candidates.

Investors: Gareth Evans (Treasury): [email protected]

About Bupa

Bupa's purpose is helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world.

We are an international healthcare company serving over 31 million customers worldwide. With no shareholders, we reinvest profits into providing more and better healthcare for the benefit of current and future customers.

We directly employ around 85,000 people, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, Chile, Poland, New Zealand, Hong Kong SAR, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, the US, Middle East and Ireland. We also have associate businesses in Saudi Arabia and India.