Kingsley Healthcare chief executive Daya Thayan has made the top 15 of the prestigious HealthInvestor Power 50 awards for a second successive year.

Mr Thayan was announced in 14th position – a rise of one place on last year – at a glitzy awards event in London last night (Wednesday), hosted by doctor, television presenter and politician, Professor Robert Winston.

Mr Thayan said he was 'thrilled' to be recognised once more at the awards, which honour the country's most innovative and successful leaders in the independent healthcare sector.

He said: 'This is an award not just for me but for the hard work and dedication of all the staff at Kingsley. What we have achieved as a company has been a real team effort.'

Professor Winston described how Mr Thayan had consistently grown his Lowestoft-based care homes group since starting it with his wife Sumi in 1999.

He said: 'They have grown it into a national business employing 1,600 staff and this year Kingsley passed a new landmark with the opening of its new head office in Lowestoft, Kingsley House.'

Top spot in the awards, organised by leading industry magazine Health Investor, went to Tom Riall, chief executive of Priory Group.