Regis Healthcare Poaches Bupa Aged Care Chief to Drive Growth From July 2026
Regis Healthcare has appointed Andrew Kinkade as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective 20 July 2026. Kinkade currently serves as Managing Director of Bupa Villages & Aged Care, where he leads 8,000 staff across 57 locations. The appointment follows a competitive search process conducted by Korn Ferry and sees Kinkade succeed Dr Linda Mellors, who announced her resignation on 22 December 2025 and completes her notice period on 19 June 2026.
Regis Healthcare secures Bupa aged care chief as new CEO
The appointment delivers leadership continuity through an executive with direct competitor experience in the same sector. Kinkade’s operational track record at Bupa — where he has been widely recognised for delivering operational and cultural transformation whilst navigating regulatory reform — positions him to accelerate Regis’s strategic agenda without the learning curve typically associated with external hires.
Regis Healthcare (ASX: REG) currently provides services to more than 10,000 older Australians through residential aged care homes, home care service hubs, day therapy and respite centres, and retirement villages. The company employs over 13,000 staff across its operations.
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Two decades of aged care and healthcare leadership
Kinkade brings more than 20 years of executive experience spanning aged care, healthcare, private equity and investment banking. At Bupa Villages & Aged Care, he has delivered growth and value creation while improving clinical care outcomes during a period of significant regulatory reform. His responsibilities have extended beyond Australian operations to include supporting Bupa’s Asia Pacific strategy and key initiatives, and he currently serves as a Director on the Board of Bupa Hong Kong.
The breadth of his strategic and financial experience is directly relevant to Regis’s growth ambitions in a capital-intensive, highly regulated sector. Prior to leading Bupa’s aged care division, Kinkade’s career path demonstrates both operational depth in healthcare delivery and strategic capability in complex transactions.
Prior executive roles and professional credentials
Kinkade’s career progression includes:
- Bupa Dental Care — Executive healthcare role
- Catholic Healthcare — Executive healthcare role
- National Home Doctor Service — Executive healthcare role
- Bain & Company — Strategy consulting
- Macquarie Group — Private equity, asset management, and investment banking (London)
His professional qualifications and accreditations include:
- Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) — University of Technology Sydney
- Bachelor of Accounting — University of Technology Sydney
- Chartered Accountant — Qualified professional accreditation
- Solicitor — Qualified legal practitioner
- Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors
This combination of operational aged care expertise with financial and strategic consulting experience is directly relevant to navigating the sector’s regulatory complexity whilst executing capital allocation and expansion plans.
What does a CEO transition mean for aged care investors?
CEO appointments carry material significance for ASX-listed aged care operators because leadership quality directly impacts operational performance, regulatory compliance, and strategic execution in a people-intensive business. The sector operates under complex regulatory frameworks, including the Aged Care Act 2024 referenced in the announcement, which requires executives to balance care quality obligations with commercial performance.
Leadership transitions introduce execution risk during handover periods. However, Kinkade’s direct competitor experience at a comparable-scale operator reduces the learning curve typically associated with new appointments. He has already navigated the same regulatory environment, managed similar workforce challenges, and delivered transformation programmes in aged care specifically.
For Regis, which services over 10,000 older Australians and employs more than 13,000 staff, continuity of strategic direction matters. The Board’s selection of an executive with proven aged care credentials signals confidence in accelerating existing plans rather than pivoting strategy.
Remuneration structure aligns new CEO with shareholders
Kinkade’s remuneration package emphasises equity-based components that tie his interests to long-term shareholder returns. His Total Fixed Remuneration is set at $900,000 per annum (inclusive of superannuation).
The Short Term Incentive (STI) structure provides at-risk remuneration of up to 50% of TFR, subject to achievement of performance conditions. Awards are delivered as a combination of 75% cash and 25% Share Rights, with the equity component deferred for one year. For the financial year ending 30 June 2027, any STI award will be issued on a pro rata basis based on his period of service during the year.
The Long Term Incentive (LTI) structure delivers at-risk remuneration of up to 100% of TFR, awarded as Performance Rights subject to achievement of three-year performance conditions. For FY27, any LTI award will also be pro rata based on service period during the financial year. The LTI Performance Rights award requires shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rule 10.14 at the company’s next Annual General Meeting.
In connection with his appointment, the Board has approved a sign-on equity award of Performance Rights valued at $1,600,000 to compensate Kinkade for foregoing unvested long-term incentive awards forfeited from his previous employer. Performance Rights will be awarded based on the 20-day volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of Regis shares immediately preceding his start date.
Sign-on award vesting schedule
The sign-on award vests in three tranches over 36 months:
- 31.25% vests at 12 months from start date
- 33.75% vests at 24 months from start date
- 35% vests at 36 months from start date
Vesting is subject to no regulatory sanction or condition being received by any Group Company under the Aged Care Act 2024 and Kinkade’s continued employment. Malus and clawback provisions apply in line with the LTI Plan Rules. The sign-on award requires shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rule 10.14 at the next Annual General Meeting. If approval is not received, it may be paid in cash.
| Component | Value | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fixed Remuneration | $900,000 p.a. | Inclusive of superannuation |
| Short Term Incentive | Up to 50% of TFR | 75% cash, 25% deferred Share Rights |
| Long Term Incentive | Up to 100% of TFR | Performance Rights, 3-year conditions |
| Sign-on Award | $1,600,000 | Vests over 36 months in 3 tranches |
The remuneration structure emphasises equity over cash and ties a significant portion of total compensation to multi-year performance conditions. This design aligns Kinkade’s interests with long-term shareholder returns rather than short-term metrics.
Kinkade’s employment contract includes a six-month notice period by either party, plus customary non-compete and non-solicitation restrictions which apply for up to 12 months following departure.
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Board and incoming CEO signal growth focus
Graham Hodges, Chairman of Regis, described Kinkade as “a values-based leader with deep sector experience” who brings “an exceptional blend of operational leadership, strategic rigour and financial capability.” The Chairman noted that Kinkade’s track record in delivering growth whilst leading complex transformations in highly regulated, people-intensive businesses makes him ideally suited to the role.
Andrew Kinkade, Incoming Managing Director & CEO
“I am thrilled to be joining Regis at such an exciting time for the company and the sector. Aged care is an industry I am deeply passionate about — it is a genuine opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of older Australians and their families. Regis has built an outstanding reputation, and I look forward to working with the Board, leadership team and all Regis staff to build on that strong position and deliver the company’s strategic and growth agenda.”
Both Board and incoming CEO messaging emphasises growth and strategic acceleration. Regis is one of the largest aged care operators in Australia, founded over 30 years ago, with operations spanning residential aged care, home care, day therapy and respite centres, and retirement villages. The company’s scale — servicing over 10,000 older Australians through a workforce of more than 13,000 employees — provides a platform for expansion as regulatory reform reshapes the sector.
The appointment signals strategic continuity combined with potential acceleration of growth plans. Kinkade’s experience delivering transformation programmes whilst maintaining care quality outcomes positions him to execute on opportunities emerging from the Aged Care Act 2024 and demographic tailwinds in Australia’s ageing population.
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