Mr. Coumarassamy Marimouttou

Mr. Coumarassamy Marimouttou
MBA, MSc (Forensic MH), RMN,
Deputy Chief Operating Officer (HIOWHFT),
Founder & Chairman (BINA)

Marimouttou Coumarassamy MBE—widely known as Coumar—is the Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Accountable Emergency Officer at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. A transformative healthcare leader, he is recognised across the NHS for delivering service redesign, strengthening organisational culture, and driving high quality care through compassionate, value based leadership.

Coumar began his nursing journey in 1994 in Pondicherry, India, before moving to the UK in 2003. He has since built a distinguished career rooted in clinical expertise and strategic leadership, supported by an MSc in Forensic Mental Health Care (University of Birmingham) and an MBA in Health Executive Leadership (Keele University).

Over more than two decades, Coumar has held senior roles across the Midlands, Northwest, and Southeast of England, where he has consistently led complex mental health services to improved performance, safer care, and better patient outcomes. His work in redesigning pathways, embedding psychological safety, and cultivating inclusive teams has earned national recognition from both the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Care Quality Commission.

A passionate and influential advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, Coumar is driven by his lived experience as a BAME professional within the UK healthcare system. His long-standing commitment to workforce equity—particularly in race and disability inclusion—has made him a respected voice across NHS systems.

This commitment led to the founding of the British Indian Nurses Association (BINA), established during the COVID 19 pandemic in August 2020. Working closely with the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) and supported by like minded leaders, Coumar created BINA as an arm’s-length body to elevate the voices of internationally educated nurses and Indian-origin nursing professionals. The organisation was launched nationally by Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, and continues to influence policy and practice across the NHS.

Coumar’s contributions to nursing and healthcare leadership have been widely celebrated. He was awarded an MBE in the 2025 New Year Honours, recognised as one of the Health Service Journal’s Top BAME Leaders in Health (2022–2024), and is the recipient of numerous awards, including Inclusive Leadership Award (BSMHFT, 2022) and Nurse of the Year (BAPIO, 2021).

Through bold leadership, deep compassion, and an unwavering commitment to fairness, Coumar continues to shape a more inclusive, innovative, and equitable healthcare system—ensuring that both patients and staff can thrive.