CFDG trustees yesterday voted in Ian Theodoreson as the group’s new chair, succeeding Charles Nall who had served in the role for the last four years.

Theodoreson, who is chief finance officer for the Church of England, was one of three new trustees chosen by members to fill vacant slots on the board.  The other new trustees are Kevin Barnes, director of finance at Barnardo’s and Diane Bassett, head of corporate services at the South West Lakes Trust.

After his appointment, Theodoreson paid tribute to Nall’s period of tenure, saying he had guided CFDG through an important period of growth. He had also overseen the recruitment of Caron Bradshaw last year, who Theodoreson described as “our excellent CEO”.

The new chair’s appointment was well received by the almost 100 members present at yesterday’s AGM.  By common consent, Theodoreson is one of the most widely-experienced and respected FDs in the sector.  He was one of the founder members of CFDG in 1987 when he was FD at Save the Children, and served as the group’s first treasurer. Shortly before becoming director of corporate services at Barnardo’s in 1995, he was one of the key driving forces behind the establishment of the Charities Consortium.  Theodoreson now holds the distinction of being the longest-serving CFDG member.

Paul Breckell, managing director of corporate resources at Action on Hearing Loss, was Nall’s predecessor as chair from 2001-07.  Speaking to civilsociety.co.uk he described the new chair as a “fantastic appointment”, and welcomed Theodoreson’s “active re-engagement with the group”.  Bill Cottle, deputy executive director at Unicef UK, and CFDG’s second-longest serving member having joined the group in the summer of 1988, described Theodoreson as “articulate, reflective, and with an easy style.  Someone who gets the point and raises the issues”.

Kevin Barnes, who reported to Theodoreson at Barnardo’s for a short period before the latter left for the Church of England in 2009, said the new chair “understands the issues facing charities as well as anybody, and that includes the issues facing small and medium-sized charities, as well as the large ones.  He was an inspirational leader to work for and will bring the same leadership skills to his role as CFDG chair”.

Asked by civilsociety.co.uk why he wanted to come back into such a demanding role at this stage of his career, Theordoreson said: “In a sense, I’ve never been away.

“I’ve always been committed to mutual self-help in the sector.  I believe we are all obliged to share the expertise that we have. I’ve now got my feet under the table at the Church and it felt like a good time to stand for the role.”

One of the first tasks facing Theodoreson and Bradshaw will be organising appropriate events to mark CFDG’s 25th anniversary, from the beginning of next year.