The chief executive of parkrun will step down this summer after three years in the role.
Yesterday, parkrun announced that Russ Jefferys would leave the charity on 31 July. The board of trustees has instigated the process to find his successor.
Jefferys joined parkrun in 2015 as head of communications before transitioning to CEO in 2022.
During his tenure, the charity grew to more than 2,600 weekly events across 23 countries globally, with over 10 million registered participants.
Turbulent years
During Jefferys’s first year as CEO, the charity faced scrutiny over its governance and culture, after internal reports were published which stated that the organisation operated as a “boys club” under its previous leadership.
Parkrun also reported itself to the Charity Commission in 2022 after Jefferys’s predecessor Nick Pearson received thousands of pounds in undeclared payments from a third-party supplier.
The following year, the charity’s appointment of former Sun editor David Dinsmore as a trustee caused a backlash from supporters and led to his resignation.
In an interview with Civil Society in 2023, Jefferys said his first year as chief executive had been “interesting”, but added that parkrun was in better shape now and aimed to double in size over the next five years.
The full interview can be read here.
‘The time feels right for someone else to come in’
On his departure, Jefferys said: “It’s been an absolute honour to lead parkrun and I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity.
“The greatest privilege of all has been working alongside brilliant colleagues, volunteers and partners, helping to open up parkrun to more people and offering a safe and inclusive environment for all, especially those who otherwise face too high a barrier to sport and physical activity.
“I’m proud of all that has been achieved in the time I have been with parkrun, and in particular the past three years as CEO.
“As an established charity and recognised public health initiative, parkrun is well placed to continue making a positive impact in the lives of so many.”
Jefferys added that he would be taking “a short break before embarking on a new challenge”.
“After 10 years with parkrun, the time feels right for someone else to come in and help the organisation to reach even greater heights.”
Parkrun’s founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt said Jefferys “played a pivotal role in parkrun’s evolution, significantly influencing its growth, governance and global impact”.
Chair Helen Weir said: “Russ has been a first-class CEO. He has overseen a period of rapid and necessary change for the charity, including an overhaul in its governance, a significant increase in revenue that has set the charity on a stable financial footing, the development of a strong culture, and continued growth with more events and participants than ever before.”
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