John Henderson joined Staffordshire County Council as Chief Executive in May 2015, following a career in the British Army. His previous appointment was as a Major General commanding the British Forces in Germany. John was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2014 New Year Honours. 

John grew up in Perth, before studying Mechanical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University. He has also studied at the Joint Services Staff College, the Royal College of Defence Studies, and at Cranfield University. 

John’s military service has been mostly overseas in support services leadership roles: over 15 years in Germany, and also in Belgium, the United States and the UK. He has been privileged to command four times on operations: in Bosnia; in Iraq; and twice in Afghanistan.  

He is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He is a keen linguist, almost native in German, fluent in French, and workable in a number of other European and Middle Eastern languages. He retains a non-executive role in the Army.  

John joins our Integrated Care Board as a Partner Member.