Ken Hesketh

That organisation in a sleek, modern office block in Holgate Park is massive. What was begun in 1905 by post office clerk Charles Garland as a way of supporting his colleagues who had TB, is a mutual organisation which today provides help and advice to a membership of 940,000 former public-sector workers, as well as registered charities and employs 157 people in York.

But Ken was perfectly cut out for the job. In 1969 he was selected to the NHS National Administrative Training Scheme and trained at Leeds University and hospitals in the north. Once qualified in 1973 he became personnel manager at Leeds General Infirmary.

Six years later he became deputy administrator with South East Kent Health Authority, then from 1982 for ten years worked at board level with Allied Medical Group and International Hospitals Group, commissioning and running hospital management projects. Part of his time there was spent living in Saudi Arabia.

Then he became first the general manager of Medway Health Authority, and later for four years was chief executive of Medway NHS Trust.

After a stint as both head of workforce planning in the NHS Southern Region and director of modernisation for East Kent Hospitals, he joined Benenden, as a non-executive director of its Kent hospital, then as its director for six years, before coming to York in 2008.

Which job (other than your own) would you like to have and why?

I have always been very satisfied working in healthcare management but always had two other ‘dream jobs’ – a drummer in an R&B band and a professional golfer. I don’t have the natural talent you need for either.

Greatest achievement?

If you forced me to choose I would say being appointed to my present job at Benenden. For me it recognised and builds on lots of things that I’ve done throughout my career.

Biggest mistake?

Buying a nursing home, with no real sense of vocation or of commercial timing. My wife, Val, a nurse, learned a lot but it wasn’t a great experience.

What makes you most angry?

Have you ever ‘shanked’ a golf ball?

What makes you laugh?

I’m a big Blackadder fan.

What fools do you suffer least?

They aren’t fools, but I do have a big problem with British media. Fabrications, invasions of privacy of people who are clearly the victims of circumstance. I think we pay a high price for a free press.

Whom do you most admire and why?

Mikhail Gorbachev. The relatively peaceful dismantling of the old USSR was a massive political achievement. This contribution to world peace has been immense and is largely his doing.

How do you relax?

Listening to good music – classical, jazz, blues – I like them all.

What do you need to make life complete?

I’m not conscious of ‘needing’ anything. At home and at work I believe there will always be something more to achieve.

Why do you make a difference?

I think that’s for others to judge.

Name the organisation (apart from your own!) that you see as closest to perfection and why?

Google. I don’t know how it works but the service is fantastic. They’ve captured the mood and the technology and made such a difference to all our lives.

Favourite record?

Night Train – Oscar Peterson.

Favourite holiday destination?

Tenerife – not too far, something for everyone, always warm and much better than it used to be.

Your epitaph

I might adopt the one used for actor David Kossof’s son, Paul, lead guitarist of that great rock band – Free. You’ve guessed it – ‘All Right Now’.