The Chair of Health Innovation Manchester, Rowena Burns, has paid tribute to Sir Howard Bernstein, a founding member of the Health Innovation Manchester Board,  who has died aged 71 after a period of illness.  

Rowena Burns, said:

“Over thirty-five years I was privileged to know Howard as a friend and colleague, and as the inspirational leader who was my greatest professional influence. Howard was always there for me, through good times and bad.

Howard’s vision and insight were exceptional and unerring. Challenges and setbacks were turned into opportunities. He was the most dogged of optimists, with no “give up” button in his toolkit.

He was also immensely practical, always willing the ends as well as the means, assembling teams that were indifferent to hierarchies – Howard looked for talent not rank.

Howard was fun, worked insanely hard, and inspired others to do the same – we were all in it for the chase and the goal. With huge emotional intelligence, he loved the occasional absurdity of human behaviour.

Unlike so many leaders, success did not change Howard a jot. He was absolutely authentic. The years gave him wisdom, and his softer side came more strongly to the fore.

I loved him very much and shall miss him greatly”.