Age UK has today announced the appointment of Steph Harland as its chief executive with immediate effect, and Sir Brian Pomeroy as its chair.
Harland has been acting chief executive at Age UK since September, and before that was deputy chief executive. Her appointment follows a competitive process at the end of last year.
Tom Wright had held the role of chief executive at Age UK for almost nine years, before starting a role as chief executive of Guide Dogs in September last year.
Dianne Jeffrey, current chair of Age UK, said: “We are delighted at this appointment. Steph has an enviable track record at Age UK and the recruitment panel was extremely impressed by Steph’s vision and strategy for the future, as well as her passion for keeping those in later life at the heart of Age UK’s work. We have no doubt that she will be a strong and inspiring leader and that Age UK and its people will thrive under her leadership.”
Harland said: “As a person who is passionate about supporting older people, I’ve always been exceptionally proud to work for Age UK and of our role at the heart of a network of charities across the UK and around the world who share our determination to ensure that older people can love their later life. And so, I feel very honoured to be chosen to lead Age UK into the future. We are a strong and energetic organisation with important work to do, especially at a time when older people, the network and our sector face many difficult challenges.”
New chair
Pomeroy will become chair in February, when Jeffrey, the charity’s founding chair, reaches the end of her final term after 10 years in the role.
Age UK was created by the merger of Age Concern and Help the Aged in 2009 and Jeffrey was appointed to the role in 2008 when the charities announced thier intention to merger.
Pomeroy joined the Age UK board as a trustee in 2017 and chairs its strategic finance committee.
He held many significant positions at charities, think-tanks, government commissions and taskforces and was formerly the senior partner of Deloitte Consulting. He is also chair of HM Treasury’s Action Group on Cross-Border Remittances and a director of the Social Market Foundation.
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