Kerrie Hedley will become CEO of XLVets to replace Andrew Curwen, who will step down this summer
Succession Planning Continues To Breed Confidence And Togetherness At XLVets
2 weeks ago 
208 views
After 12 months of succession planning, XLVets, the community of independently owned veterinary practices, has unveiled what its future will look like as it continues to build on the key pillars of its success, including collaboration and community.
XLVets, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, will appoint a new CEO this summer when Andrew Curwen steps down after the community’s AGM in June 2026.
Andrew has been CEO of XLVets, which has 70 members who all share best practice, experience, knowledge and skills to define the highest standards of veterinary care, for the past 19 years. He will continue to play a role at XLVets, supporting the development of the next generation of business owners through its Aspiring Owners and Leadership programmes.
Kerrie Hedley, who has been part of the XLVets team since 2015, will then become the organisation’s new CEO. Kerrie, who trained as an equine vet, originally joined XLVets as Equine Business Manager where through ongoing professional development, mentorship and subsequent leadership of many aspects of the organisation, she became Chief Operating Officer in 2019.
Since then, she has overseen the operational running of XLVets and was instrumental in the community launching its successful Veterinary Women in Leadership (VWIL) initiative which aims to break down the barriers for women who aspire to own independent veterinary practices.
Kerrie said: “I was first introduced to XLVets in 2011 when I started working as an equine vet in a member practice and was hooked by the opportunities it presented. Working with other practices in a collaborative way, sharing problems and working out solutions together was hugely beneficial.
“When the opportunity arose to join the XLVets team on a 12-month maternity leave contract, I jumped at the chance and never left! It’s felt like a big privilege to work closely with member practices to promote collaboration and togetherness and make sure they benefit in the same way that I did. I still remember my first XLVets meeting with members and the sense of belonging, the energy, the shared purpose, and all the new ideas.
“Becoming CEO is a huge honour because it gives me even more of an opportunity to help independent practices thrive and succeed long into the future. By working together, we can achieve so much more.
“We’re also delighted that members will continue to benefit from Andrew’s knowledge and experience. The unwavering commitment and energy he has invested in XLVets over the last 20 years is profound and there’s no doubt he has had a lasting impact on our members and everyone who has worked with him, which we’re all very grateful for.”
Andrew added: “We strongly encourage succession planning for our members, and we have been thoughtfully shaping this transition over the past year to ensure continuity for our community. This is a natural point in the evolution of XLVets, where leadership has never been a solo act. It has always been a shared journey and will continue to be so.
“Kerrie has developed strong working relationships with both members and her colleagues, and I’ve been fortunate to work alongside her for the past 11 years. I’ll now work closely with her for the next four months to complete a seamless handover and there’s no doubt she is the right person to lead XLVets into its next chapter.
“It has been the honour of a lifetime to serve this community and I’m still looking forward to supporting the next generation of business owners in our member practices. I am in no doubt that practices that are owned and run by people who live within their local communities, and who work cooperatively with like-minded professionals, can shine as valuable beacons of credibility, capability, integrity and worth.”
More from XLVets
- Farm vet expands in South Lanarkshire with second site
- Vets are ‘puffin’ through mammoth pink yacht racing challenge
- South West veterinary group recruits new team to provide 24 hour emergency services
- The XLVets community is thriving after 20 years and lays the foundations for the next 20
- Future is healthy for longstanding North Yorkshire veterinary group as it welcomes new partners
