Acevo’s new chief executive has promised to focus on the members and to “get a good grip on the finances”, in her first interview since taking the job, published today.
Vicky Browning took over as chief executive of Acevo, the body for charity leaders, at the end of January.
Speaking to Governance & Leadership magazine, Civil Society Media’s title for charity trustees and senior leaders, she said Acevo’s trustees had recruited her because they wanted “something a bit different” from Acevo’s previous chief executive, Sir Stephen Bubb.
Bubb has stepped back to lead Acevo’s new Charity Futures Programme – a research programme into governance and leadership.
“When I was interviewed, there was a sense that having had a charismatic leader for a long time, they wanted something a bit different,” she says. “Under Stephen, Acevo was an organisation which punched well above its weight. He had obviously focused on the policy and the advocacy work, which was his great passion and strength. But I have different strengths.
“My focus will be on the members, and really understanding and anticipating what they need, and delivering that.”
Browning said Acevo needed to change its business model to cope with changing circumstances.
“The old model was that there was government funding,” she says. “And up until two years ago, there was. When that stopped there was a restructure but it probably didn’t happen fast enough.
“The cost base was still there without the income to support it. So there was a sudden drop-off. Now we need to get a good grip on the finances and grow the base.”
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Browning, was previously chief executive of CharityComms, the membership body for charity communications professionals.
“At CharityComms I focused on membership and events,” she says. “That’s a sensible business model here, too. There will be other ways to get funding – pots of money we can apply for – but we need to be driven by members’ needs, not follow the funds.”
Subscribers to Governance & Leadership can read the full interview with Vicky Browning here. Other readers can subscribe to Governance & Leadership here.
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