Charlesworth's Futurebuilders job 'not cronyism', says Lewis

Finance | Gareth Jones | 3 Feb 2009

Jonathan Lewis, chief executive of Futurebuilders England, has denied that the appointment of Ian Charlesworth to the newly-created role of enterprise director, is a case of 'jobs for the boys'.

Charlesworth will be responsible for “developing the business”, and will utilise ten years’ experience of tendering for contracts at the Shaw Trust.

The role has been created specifically for him and although he was interviewed for the role, it wasn’t advertised publicly.

Lewis said Charlesworth's experience of competing for tenders was key: “Futurebuilders helps the third sector win contracts, and that’s what he has done at the Shaw Trust, he turned it into a business with substantial revenue and reserves.

“He’s in a brilliant position to help us understand how to grow and help others to grow.”

'Not cronyism'

Lewis denied a charge of cronyism, or that the appointment had been made as a favour to Futurebuilders chair Stephen Bubb, an ardent supporter of Charlesworth's work at the Shaw Trust.

“You don’t often get the chance to have someone of that ability," Lewis said. "Stephen introduced me to Ian but after that it was entirely down to me.

“If other brilliant people become available and can genuinely help us then I would absolutely find a job for them.”

Charlesworth's tenure at the Trust came to a controversial end last autumn when he was placed on gardening leave just days after warning trustees against plans to expand into Australia.

Acevo chief executive Stephen Bubb was an outspoken critic of his dismissal. He later had to apologise for claiming wrongly that Shaw Trust staff had issued a vote of no confidence in the Trust’s board of trustees and director general.

Prior to joining the Shaw Trust, Charlesworth worked for the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and the West Riding County Council in Yorkshire.

Directory: Futurebuilders England

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