The City and Guilds Foundation has cancelled its plans to appoint a permanent chief executive, days before Ben Blackledge was due to take up his post.
Following the controversial £166m sale of the charity’s commercial arm last year, it announced Blackledge’s appointment in May, with plans for him to lead on the organisation’s new strategy from mid-October.
However, the charity’s trustees said on Friday that they had decided not to hire Blackledge and to review its strategy first before making an appointment.
Trustees of the charity, legally registered as the City and Guilds of London Institute, said: “The institute is undertaking a wider review of its future strategy, organisational structure and operating model, to ensure it is best placed to deliver its charitable mission in the years ahead.
“Trustees have decided it would be more appropriate to complete this work before making a permanent leadership appointment.
“Existing interim leadership arrangements remain in place, and the organisation’s day-to-day operations, services and commitments continue as normal.
“As part of the review process, trustees will consider a range of evidence and stakeholder feedback before determining the timing of a future recruitment process.
“The trustees and team have enjoyed working with Ben Blackledge during his preparation to join the institute and thank him for his contribution during this period and wish him every success for the future.”
‘Further serious questions’
The sale of the charity’s commercial wing and transfer of the vast majority of its 1,400 staff to Greek firm PeopleCert last year led to two investigations, one by the Charity Commission and another commissioned by the charity itself, both of which are ongoing.
Campaigning collective the City & Guilds Action Group, which pushed for the second investigation, said it was “deeply concerned” by the announcement that the charity would now not appoint a permanent CEO.
“These developments raise further serious questions about governance and whether this trustee board should remain whilst a statutory and independent inquiry is taking place,” it said in a statement.
Barbara le Fleming, City and Guilds Foundation’s executive director of finance and operations, will remain its acting chief executive after taking over from Mike Adamson earlier this year.
Meanwhile, WorldSkills UK chair Marion Plant said her charity’s board had agreed a request from Blackledge to withdraw his resignation and continue as its CEO.
Blackledge said on social media: “My heartfelt thanks to Marion and the board for their support, and to our team and partners. It is a privilege to continue working alongside you.”
