Diabetes UK has announced its next chief executive in what will be the £38m charity’s first change of leadership in eight years.
Colette Marshall has been promoted to CEO at the health charity and will replace Chris Askew, who is stepping down after eight years to become CEO at the Royal College of General Practitioners in October.
Marshall has been Diabetes UK’s director of services, volunteering and local impact since 2012, having previously held a senior operational role at Save the Children.
She is also a trustee at the Bat Conservation Trust and was formerly co-chair of the End Child Poverty Coalition.
Marshall will begin her new role on 21 September, and said the growing number of people in the UK living with diabetes is “a crisis that must be addressed head-on”.
“We are seeing worrying inequalities in the health and care of people living with and at risk of diabetes, depending on their income, where they live, and their ethnicity,” she said.
“While we are in no doubt over the scale of the challenges we face, we are a charity brimming with ambition. Ambition for equality, better care and understanding of diabetes. Ambition for more breakthroughs in treatments and progress towards a cure.
“I am excited to take the helm at this time for Diabetes UK, and I look forward to working with the diabetes community, colleagues and partners to meet the challenges ahead.”
Carol Homden, chair of Diabetes UK, said: “The board of trustees of Diabetes UK is delighted to announce the appointment of Colette to the role of chief executive as we start the next chapter of our momentous journey towards a world in which diabetes can do no harm.
“Colette is a highly strategic leader, with a wealth of experience from both the commercial and charity sector and a track record of ambitious campaigning and influencing.
“With her strong commitment to tackling the challenges of health inequalities and passion for the power of partnership working, we look forward to the growth and development of Diabetes UK under her leadership.”
Askew previously spoke in an interview with Civil Society about the charity's focus on tackling inequalities in diabetes care, the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and opportunities for collaboration.
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