Our Senior Management Team

---

Emma Pearson, Chief Executive

Emma joined Helping Hands as CEO in 2024 having worked across Education, Health and Social Care for over 25 years. Emma is committed to delivering great outcomes for individuals who need support and has focussed the Helping Hands purpose on ‘helping people live well at home and in the communities they love’. Joining from Achieve Together, a specialist support provider for working age adults with a learning disabilities, autism, or complex needs across the UK, Emma was shortlisted as an ‘Outstanding Leader’ in the Health Investor Power 50 awards, which recognises the industry’s most effective, inspiring, and influential leaders.

---

Tristan Philips, Chief Financial Officer

Tristan joined Helping Hands in May 2025, having previously been Chief Financial Officer at Poundstretcher. He has 18 years’ experience in senior finance roles in organisations such as M&S, O2 and SAB Miller and has worked in Russia, Switzerland and Australia, as well as the UK. For 5 years, he was a non-executive director for Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, a Community Hospital and Mental Health Trust.  During his tenure, the Trust was awarded an Outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission. He holds the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualification and has an MBA from Melbourne Business School.

---

Karyn MacKenzie, Group Managing Director

Karyn joined Helping Hands in 2018, bringing a wealth of management experience from senior operations roles in health and care businesses. She previously spent eight years managing a large group of private hospitals and held the role of COO for a multisite veterinary company and retail healthcare group. She began her career running a chain of well-established fitness clubs. In 2024, Karyn was recognised by management consultancy, EY, in their UK SuperScalers report which showcases the impact of the UK’s leading female growth-oriented entrepreneurs and highlights their contribution to the UK economy.

---

Claire Taylor-Harris, Chief Customer Officer

Claire joined Helping Hands early in 2024 with over 20 years’ experience in senior marketing and leadership roles across health and social care. Claire had led customer-facing teams in marketing and new business as Commercial Director at Bupa Home Healthcare and Lloyds Pharmacy Clinical Homecare, and led transformation and strategy at care home group HC-One. She has a passion to continually make an impact at organisations with genuine purpose and has been a Trustee at the social mobility charity, the Brokerage and a volunteer for MediCinema. She is CIM qualified and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

---

Mark Taylor, Chief People Officer

Mark has more than 20 years’ experience leading HR and the People agenda for businesses in the retail, financial services, and the automotive sectors. Mark has worked for a wide range of innovative, growing businesses of different scale, including high street brands such as the Co-op, Topps Tiles, and cinch. He joined Helping Hands in March 2024 bringing expertise in organisational development, culture, and recruitment. He is also a qualified executive coach.

 

---

Armin Heydari, Director of Corporate Projects

Armin joined Helping Hands in February 2024 and oversees strategic planning, key project delivery and data and insights. He is passionate about helping people to live well, having worked in health and social care since the start of his career. Armin previously worked in the strategy team at BMJ Group and was part of the Consulting Health Strategy team at PwC, delivering projects for NHS Trusts, improving care provision and quality. Armin is also a qualified pharmacist, with five years of experience as a locum in community pharmacy giving him a great insight into the care journey.