John Hollis to stand down as Knight Commander of St John

29 July 2024

John Hollis KStJ has announced his intention to stand down as the Knight Commander of St John Guernsey, following a period of poor health. John has made the decision with the support of his family and senior figures in St John.

John was appointed a Knight Commander in November 2022 and has provided leadership, oversight and direction for the whole of the St John organisation in Guernsey, including both the St John Guernsey charity and the Ambulance and Rescue Service. During his time in office, John shared his enthusiasm, vision and drive to lead the organisation into a new era, conducting a comprehensive review of its structure and core services. As a figure head for St John in Guernsey John also utilised his vast business and government experience to build and strengthen relationships with key stake holders, particularly the States of Guernsey.

In his ceremonial role as Knight Commander, John represented Guernsey at events in the UK and presided over various St John ceremonies and presentations locally. In July this year John was presented to His Majesty King Charles III, Sovereign Head of the Order of St John, during the Royal visit to Guernsey. 

CEO of the St John Guernsey charity, Heather Langlois said: “John Hollis is a remarkable individual whose passion, commitment and drive are at the heart of everything he does, and his ability to inspire teams, support ideas and lead change are skills that the Charity will benefit from for years to come. John perfectly embodies the Charity’s values of Humanity, Excellence, Accountability, Responsiveness and Teamwork, and during his time as Knight Commander he has ensured a more sustainable future for the Charity. It will forever be one of my greatest privileges to have had the opportunity to learn from and work alongside John and on behalf of the St John Guernsey Charity I would like to thank him for his service. This organisation is stronger because of his leadership.”

CEO of the St John Ambulance and Rescue Service, Mark Mapp said: “The entire ambulance team will miss John, whose extensive support for the service has provided us with stability, transparency, and sustainability. Before becoming our leader, John worked in various sectors of government, where he undertook a comprehensive review of the ambulance service and, as part of the review, considered the broader urgent and emergency care healthcare system. His report was innovative, and many solutions to today’s healthcare challenges lie within his work and recommendations. John has been a strategic motivator and a driving force behind transformative changes, and his legacy will continue to inspire us all.”

Prior to being appointed as Knight Commander, John had previously served as the Chairman of the boards of St John Guernsey and St John Ambulance and Rescue Service. He came to St John following a long and successful career in international business and government adviser, having previously been a non-states member of Treasury & Resources and the States Trading Supervisory Board.

The process of recruiting a new Knight or Dame Commander will begin in the next few weeks.