Four charity CEOs decide to step down
Susan Daniels, chief executive of the National Deaf Children’s Society, will step down in July after 33 years in the post.
Under her leadership, the charity’s income grew from £1m to over £33m.
Daniels, who is profoundly deaf, is also chair of Groundbreakers and a governance trainer for Civil Society.
“I’ve loved every minute of my time at the National Deaf Children’s Society and am immensely proud and privileged to have had the opportunity to lead the charity,” she said.
“But with a fantastic team in place, it’s the right time to pass on the mantle and embark on a new chapter, both for the organisation and me personally.”
Separately, Richard Parry has announced his decision to step down after serving as the Canal & River Trust’s CEO for 12 years.
Parry joined the trust a year after its creation, leading it through “critical formative years to become an established and well-supported national charity”.
“After 12 years, it’s the right time for me to hand over to a new chief executive to lead the trust on the next stage of its journey, alongside our chair, David Orr who took up his post two years ago,” he said.
“My departure this summer will fit into a cycle of succession, so that David and the new chief executive can look to the longer-term future, including strengthening the trust’s partnership with government, with over four years of the current parliamentary term to run.”
Meanwhile, Chris Martin has stepped down from his role as CEO of the Mix, following the merger of the charity with Mental Health Innovations last September.
Martin became CEO of YouthNet in 2015 and led its merger with Get Connected to form the Mix in 2016.
He said: “The Mix’s strategic merger with Mental Health Innovations represents the next incredible step in our mission and gives the Mix access to the skills and resources it needs to further harness the power of technology to support young people’s wellbeing.”
His next step will be supporting charities in the youth and mental health sectors with the adoption of new technologies.
And Indigo Redfern has said she will step down as CEO of GL11 Community Hub this spring.
Redfern, who was awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours list for services to the community in Gloucestershire, has led the charity since 2014.
Reflecting on her tenure, she said: “GL11 is well positioned for its next phase of development, so I feel it’s a good time for me to step aside and for a fresh CEO to take on the next chapter.”
In Kind Direct and Fairtrade Foundations appoint CEOs
Michael Gidney has been appointed as the new CEO of In Kind Direct.
Gidney joins In Kind Direct from the Fairtrade Foundation, where he has served as CEO since 2012.
In Kind Direct chair Teresa Tideman said: “With his experience and passion for fighting poverty and exclusion, we’re excited for the future as we look to the next five years and even greater impact!”
Meanwhile, the Fairtrade Foundation has appointed Eleanor Harrison to the role of CEO to replace Gidney.
Harrison brings with her 20 years of experience leading purpose-driven organisations, was previously CEO of Impetus and is chair of the Asylum Reform Initiative.
She said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Fairtrade Foundation at such an exciting point in time. Fairtrade’s mission speaks to my values.
“To connect producers and consumers and promote fairer trading conditions so producers can earn a fair income has never been more vital.”
Harrison will begin her new role in March. Until then, chief financial officer Fiona Kindness will be interim CEO.
New CEO at the Childhood Trust
Josephine McCartney will become the Childhood Trust’s new CEO on 10 February.
McCartney has over 23 years of experience in the charity sector and is CEO of Kent Community Foundation.
Her earlier career includes senior leadership roles at Imperial College Healthcare Charity and the Royal National Institute for Blind People.
Grant Gordon, chair and founder of the Childhood Trust, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Josephine as the new leader of the Childhood Trust. Her track record and dedication makes her an exceptional choice for this role.”
Kalayaan announces CEO
Hannah Billington has been appointed as the new CEO of Kalayaan following the departure of Rita Gava who led the organisation for 19 years.
Starting her role in March, Billington has been fundraising director and member of the senior management team at the Liberal Democrats since 2019.
She previously worked in the charity sector, including at the Childhood Trust and Grief Encounter, and has been a trustee of the Longford Trust.
She said: “Kalayaan is an exceptional organisation, the steadfast champion of migrant domestic workers’ rights in the UK and a team with huge potential. I look forward to building on strong foundations, enabling the vibrant community of domestic migrant workers and the wider team.”
In the meantime, Bethany Brady will be interim CEO of Kalayaan.
Greensleeves Care welcomes acting CEO
This month, Chris Doherty, chief financial officer at Greensleeves Care, will step into the role of acting CEO.
He will replace Paul Newman, who is leaving the charity after over a decade to take up the role of group CEO at the Summit and We Care groups.
Chair Dallas Pounds said: “Chris has been part of Greensleeves Care’s success for over 10 years and is well-placed to lead the charity as acting CEO. We’re also looking forward to welcoming a permanent chief executive to steer us into the future and remain incredibly grateful to Paul for his transformative leadership over the past decade, during which Greensleeves Care has grown into one of the sector’s leading organisations.”
Wood Foundation chair steps back after 18 years
After nearly two decades of leadership, Ian Wood has stepped back as the Wood Foundation’s chair.
His son Garreth, who is currently chair of Kids Operating Room, will assume the role of chair.
Ian Wood founded the Wood Foundation in 2007. Headquartered in Aberdeen, the foundation’s flagship education programme, the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative, is the biggest independent programme delivered through Scottish education.
He will continue to serve as a trustee and president of the foundation.
New chair for Homeless Link
Homeless Link has appointed public lawyer and justice campaigner Jamie Burton as its chair, taking over from outgoing chair Anne McLoughlin.
Burton is chair and co-founder of Just Fair, a UK-wide civil society organisation focusing on human rights, and a trustee for the Coram Children’s Legal Centre.
Homeless Link chief executive Rick Henderson said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jamie as chair of our board and are certain Homeless Link and our members will benefit immensely from his wealth of experience, legal expertise and unique perspective on homelessness, human rights and social welfare.”
New chair and vice-chair at RSABI
RSABI has announced the appointments of Jane Mitchell and Stephen Young as its new chair and vice-chair.
Mitchell takes over from Jimmy McLean who has completed his two-year term and will remain a trustee for another year.
A chartered accountant, she has been a member of RSABI’s board since 2018, serving as vice-chair since 2022, and is a director with Johnston Carmichael Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, where she works with agricultural clients.
She has over 30 years of experience in the finance sector and is a non-executive director on ANM Group’s board and member of the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society board.
Young has been on RSABI’s board since 2021. He is director of policy at Scottish Land & Estates, where he represents and advises land managers throughout Scotland on rural business and policy matters.
Centre for Mental Health announces new chair and president
The Centre for Mental Health has appointed Michael Morley as its new chair and Sue Bailey as its new president.
Morley has served as the charity’s deputy chair since 2019 and was previously on the board of the Forces in Mind Trust.
He has an extensive career in the financial services industry, including former CEO of Coutts & Co and Deutsche Bank UK.
Bailey has been chair of the Centre for Mental Health since 2018 and will continue to champion the charity’s work in her new role.
Alzheimer’s Research UK appoints new chair and trustees
Gavin Patterson will become Alzheimer’s Research UK’s new chair on 12 February, taking over from Mike Cooper.
The former president and chief revenue officer of Salesforce and CEO of BT Group holds several non-executive board roles including at Ocado, Kraken and Kahoot.
The charity has also appointed three new trustees alongside Patterson: Hilary Jeffrey, executive vice president of Omnicom Media Group; Kulchetan Sanga, president of Three Ships UK; and David Spruce, former CFO of J.P. Morgan France.
Spruce will also take on the role of treasurer.
MND Association appoints two senior roles
The MND Association has appointed Mike Rogers to the role of director of research and innovation and Brian Dickie to the role of chief scientist.
Before joining the charity, Rogers spent eight years at the National Institute for Health and Care Research, where he was responsible for developing a new global applied health funding programme and led joint funding activities with the Medical Research Council during Covid-19.
Dickie has been at the MND Association for over 25 years. His knowledge, experience and international connections will now feed into the charity’s research strategy, while he advises on scientific initiatives and partnerships and informs policy positions.
Versus Arthritis hires assistant director of engagement
Versus Arthritis has appointed Lizzie D’Angelo as its new assistant director of engagement, a new role for the charity.
D’Angelo will lead a strategy to grow awareness of the charity’s brand, research and work and fully integrate its marketing, communications, digital, creative and content functions.
Prior to joining Versus Arthritis, D’Angelo worked at Tommy’s, where she held director roles across marketing, campaigns, external affairs and research for six years. She is a trustee of Iprovision and a mentor in the charity sector.
At Tommy’s, she was responsible for the multi-award-winning Miscarriage Matters campaign, winning the overall Charity Awards Award for Excellence in 2022.
Alastair Graham, director of income and engagement at Versus Arthritis, said: “With her extensive leadership and communications experience, Lizzie is the perfect candidate to drive a refreshed, bold new strategy for the charity.”
RDA UK appoints three trustees
Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA UK) has recruited three new trustees to its board: Rosie Scott-Ward, Kelly Barnes and Paul Maynard.
Scott-Ward is deputy vice-chancellor at Hartpury University and has over 25 years of experience in education and equine science.
Maynard has lived experience of disability and extensive experience in public service and politics. Previously, he served as an MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, was a government minister and chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cerebral Palsy.
Barnes’s professional background is in equestrianism including attending the British Racing School and leading marketing at the British Horseracing Authority. She specialises in international marketing, brand strategy and revenue generation.
Two trustees join Black British Initiative
Shelley Bishton, head of diversity, equity and inclusion at News UK, and Chris Brook-Carter, CEO of the Retail Trust, have joined the Black British Initiative (BBI) as new trustees.
Darren Miller, CEO and founder of the BBI, said: “I’m delighted about these two appointments, Shelley is a multiple award-winning DEI expert and her extensive experience and commitment to empowering Black entrepreneurs will be invaluable to our organisation”.
He added: “Chris’s leadership and commitment to creating supportive environments for all individuals will be instrumental in advancing the goals of BBI.”
Sistema Scotland welcomes three board members
Sally Loudon, Luke McCullough and Karen McFadyen have joined Sistema Scotland as trustees.
Loudon was previously CEO of COSLA and has held several non-executive roles including with SOLACE Scotland, Promise Scotland and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.
McCullough is BBC Scotland’s head of corporate affairs and public policy and was chair of the CORRA Foundation.
McFadyen is St Andrew’s Hospice’s (Lanarkshire) director of capital appeals and was head of operations at the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Roundhouse announces young trustees
The Roundhouse has welcomed three young people as young trustees: Antonia Kazmeier, Roshan Singh Gujra and Monique Munroe.
Kazmeier, Singh Gujra and Munroe will help steer the charity’s direction over the next 12 months.
All three already sit on Roundhouse’s youth advisory board, the voice of the charity’s creative works members, studio users and project participants.
Singh Gujra is a marketer, TikTok creator and DJ; Munroe is a musician and music producer; and Kazmeier is a storyteller and arts facilitator.
SeeAbility recruits two trustees
Last year, SeeAbility recruited two trustees, Michael Smith and Keith Valentine, who have lived experience of sight loss.
Smith is a legal adviser and principal Counsel at Revantage Real Estate who has raised over £170,000 for SeeAbility and Valentine is CEO of Fight for Sight.
SeeAbility CEO Lisa Hopkins said: “At SeeAbility, we’re always striving for lived experience of disability to have a greater influence on our decision-making and for our charity to benefit from the richness that diversity brings.
“We know there’s always more we can do, and I’m confident that with Michael and Keith and all of our trustees’ support, we will keep making progress towards our goal of a truly inclusive society.”
New board members at the Good Things Foundation
Two new board members, Thomas Beautyman and Juliet Upton, have joined the Good Things Foundation.
Beautyman has worked at the Cabinet Office as deputy director for the government digital capability framework and has experience in strategic planning and resource management.
Upton is an advocate for social change with over 30 years of experience in the charity, private and public sectors. She has held roles at the Royal Academy of Engineering and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Chair Liz Williams said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Thomas and Juliet.
“Their diverse skills and experiences will strengthen our efforts to ensure that everyone in the UK has the opportunity to benefit from digital technology.”
Related articles
