Guide Dogs has appointed its deputy chairman Amos Miller as interim chair following Tony Aston’s resignation from the post due to ill health. Rodney Buse has also stepped down as chair designate.

Tony Aston’s tenure was due to finish at the July 2012 AGM but he brought the date forward on medical advice.  A guide dog owner, Aston (pictured) had served on the board for nine years and been chairman since 2007.

Buse was appointed as chair designate last summer after a five-month recruitment process involving headhunting agency Veredus.  But in a statement released recently, Guide Dogs stated that “Rodney Buse has stepped down as chairman designate.”  No reason was given.

When contacted by civilsociety.co.uk, Buse also declined to comment, other than to say that he remained on the board as a trustee.

Amos Miller, also a guide dog owner, joined the charity’s board in July 2008.  He is an executive adviser on enterprise strategy at Microsoft where he helps businesses maximise value from their technology investments.  He has extensive experience of working in the IT industry and completed an MBA in business administration at London Business School in 2005.

A new permanent chair will be announced at the July AGM.

According to the most recent accounts filed with the Charity Commission, to 31 December 2010, the charity had income of £57.3m but spent £73m.  It was the third successive year that spending outstripped income.

In the annual constituent review of the Charity 100 Index, to be published on civilsociety.co.uk next month, Guide Dogs has slipped from 56th position in 2011 to 64th this year.