Olympic torch-carrying charity chief executive is suspended

Governance | Kirsty Weakley | 13 Jul 2012

A charity chief executive, who had recently carried the Olympic torch for her charity work, has been suspended from her job.

Michelle Lenton-Johnson, CEO at community regeneration charity Bryncynon Strategy, is under investigation by the board of trustees, although they won't say what for.

But chairman Phillip Jenkins denied that the investigation was related to finances.

Speaking to Wales Online he said: “At this stage we need to protect her and the board, but I completely refute that it is anything to do with missing finances.”

“It is between me, the board and Miss Johnson and I think that it is reasonable as everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”

A spokeswoman told civilsociety.co.uk that the charity would be making no further comment.

According to annual accounts filed with the Charity Commission the charity’s income for the year ended March 2011 was £1,897,432, up £500,000 from 2010, with an expenditure of £1,658,348.

In May Lenton-Johnson was an Olympic torchbearer in Cardiff. The anonymous nomination said: “Michelle has worked tirelessly in the local voluntary sector for over two decades.”

It added: “Since being in this role, she has single-handedly generated income in excess of £10m through determined and skilful funding application submissions, and the development and promotion of a number of social enterprise activities.”

Earlier this year Lenton-Johnson appeared on television alongside Myleene Klass to launch this year’s National Lottery Awards after helping to get Bryncynon’s Green Valley Centre voted best environmental project in 2011.

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