Trading company directors

The directors of St John’s Trading Company oversee the commercial businesses that help generate income for St John’s Foundation. Their role is to provide strong governance, strategic direction and sustainable growth, ensuring the company continues to support the charity’s work across Bath and North East Somerset.

William Riordan

William Riordan

Chair and Non-Executive Director of St John’s Hospital Trading Company

William is the co-founder of Oberland, an asset-backed hospitality investor based in London, and a Director at Swiss Finance & Property UK, the London arm of a Zurich-based asset and investment manager.

He previously held senior roles at Value Retail and S.D. Malkin Properties, where he contributed to the creation and operation of landmark real estate projects worldwide, including the Bicester Collection of luxury shopping destinations across Europe and Asia, and the Mission Pacific Hotel and Seabird Resort in southern California.

Graham Leech

Graham Leech

Non-Executive Director of St John’s Hospital Trading Company

Graham joined the Board of St John’s Hospital Trading Company in 2024. He has extensive commercial experience, having served as Executive Director, Commercial at Virgin Rail Group for 10 years and played key roles in creation of the Trainline and Eurostar businesses. In recent years he has been an independent consultant advising clients in the UK and US.

Jeff Hayes OBE

Jeff Hayes OBE

Trustee

Jeff joined St John’s Board in March 2021, having served as an Advisor on the Investment Committee for eight years. He has spent over 40 years in the City of London in the Fund Management industry, formally retiring in 2010. In the 10 years prior to his retirement, he was the Managing Director responsible for the Charity client base of Cazenove Capital Management. In this role he was responsible for over 400 Charity clients with total assets of £2.6bn. He also worked for County Nat West, Phillips & Drew, and UBS.

In addition to his Trustee role at St John’s, he is Chairman of the Social Mobility Charity Leadership through Sport and Business, and a Trustee of the West Ham United Foundation. He was previously an Advisor to the Board of Trustees at Carer’s UK, and in January 2024 was awarded an OBE in the Kings first birthday Honours list for services to the Charity and Voluntary sectors.

Laura Alexander

Laura Alexander

CEO

Laura was appointed Chief Executive Officer of St John’s Foundation in September 2026, having joined the organisation three years earlier to lead St John’s Hospital Trading Company.

Since joining St John’s, Laura has taken on an increasingly broad leadership role across the organisation, most recently as Director of Operations. She has brought commercial insight, ambition and fresh thinking to the charity, helping to strengthen its almshouse provision, shape a more strategic approach to its property portfolio and drive the development of its commercial activities. As CEO, Laura is leading St John’s as it builds on its 850-year heritage and responds to the growing needs of older adults in Bath and North East Somerset.

Bringing a wealth of experience, Laura spent over a decade at Nomad, a travel health organisation, where she most recently led their UK business as Operations Director.

Passionate about supporting her local community, Laura is also a Trustee for Frome Birth Talk, a charity dedicated to providing mental health support for new and expectant parents. She has also previously served as a trustee for two multi-academy trusts.

Karen MacGregor

Karen MacGregor

Trustee (also Director of St John’s Hospital Trading Company)

Karen joined the Board in 2020. She is a Pharmacist and Senior Director of the Research & Development group at GW Pharmaceuticals.  Karen has held senior leadership roles with a number of pharmaceutical companies across the research and development, operational, financial, business development and commercial sectors.

In addition to the strategic skills gained from within a healthcare environment, Karen has a particular interest in the primary care networks serving the community.