Absolute Return for Kids (Ark) has appointed Moonpig founder Nick Jenkins to the rebadged role of global chief executive officer.
Jenkins (pictured) will be based in London and take charge of the charity’s work in the UK and US.
Paul Bernstein had been the charity’s managing director overseeing its UK and US operations for the last seven years and when he left last year Ark decided to rename the top job in light of the charity’s recent expansion.
Jenkins recently sold Moonpig.com, the online greetings card business that he founded 11 years ago. He is an enterprise fellow of the Prince's Trust and founded his own grantmaking charity with a focus on children’s welfare.
Ark chairman, Ian Wace, said: “I am delighted that Nick Jenkins has agreed to join Ark and bring a fresh perspective to our unique philanthropic collective.”
His philanthropic credentials were an important reason for his appointment, as the charity relies on philanthropic donations to fund its programmes helping disadvantaged children in Southern Africa, Eastern Europe, the UK and India.
Wace added: “Increasingly we are working with a new generation of philanthropists, equally focused on achieving lasting improvements in children’s lives. Nick is very much part of that generation and we are extremely fortunate that he is joining us.”
Jenkins said: “Ark deserves to be known for the demonstrable impact that it has on the ground and this is the message that we intend to bring to a wider group of philanthropists.”
Ark scooped the top honour in the international aid and development category at last year's Charity Awards.
