Remembering our Company Chair, Karen Hester

It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that our Company Chair, Karen Hester, passed away recently following illness. She will be a big loss to so many people whose lives she touched. She was a mentor and friend to many of us.

Karen was so proud of Independence Matters and our subsidiary company Home Support Matters, dedicating ten years to our companies, guiding us through challenges and celebrating our successes. Her commitment and integrity to doing business right set a standard for all of us. She brought a sense of calm, assurance, and fun to the boardroom, meetings were never a chore with her at the helm.

Her spirit was infectious and beyond her professional achievements, as the Chief Operating Officer of Adnams, she was known for her big character, big heart, and generosity. She would always find time to listen, offer advice, and support others, giving back her time and experience to several causes and through her work as a magistrate. 

We will miss Karen’s wisdom, her laughter, and her unwavering belief in our potential, she believed in our mission and values.  As a company and her colleagues, we will carry on as she would have wanted us to do, honouring her memory and legacy through continuing to strive to deliver excellent care and support every day to our wonderful customers.

Due to Karen’s illness, our Vice Chair Tom Thornley has been acting as Chair and will continue to do so, providing continuity and consistency for the business over the coming weeks and months. Thank you, Karen, for everything that you have done for us over the last ten years, your legacy will live on in the work that we do, and in the hearts of those that had the privilege of knowing and working alongside you.