Human Appeal appoints new chief executive

17 Apr 2019 News

Humanitarian development charity, Human Appeal has appointed a new chief executive, nearly a year after its former CEO was dismissed and the Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry.

Dr Mohamed Ashmawey is to become the new chief executive of the charity, succeeding Othman Moqbel.

Last spring the Commission opened a statutory inquiry to investigate “serious concerns about its administration, including failures to account for the charity's funds and failures to adhere to the charity’s policies and procedures”.

The charity had appointed an independent auditor in 2018 to investigate concerns, who recommended Moqbel’s dismissal. The charity’s director of communications, Zahid Rehman and the head of campaigns, Razaul Karim, also resigned.

At the time, Moqbel denied any wrongdoing and maintained that he “never would mismanage any funds entrusted to the charity”.

The new chief exectuvie, Ashmawey was previously a humanitarian management consultant, and is also a former chief executive of Islamic Relief.

He said: “I am proud to take the reins at Human Appeal. I am looking forward to working with my new dedicated and determined colleagues as we continue to transform lives and lift people out of poverty.”

Chair of Human Appeal, Dr Kamil Zakariyya Omoteso, added: “We are confident that Dr Ashmawey will successfully take Human Appeal to the next level and drive our strategy forward so that we focus on our common goal to support our beneficiaries and become the global agent of change for a just, caring, and sustainable world.”

The charity declined to comment on how the new chief executive intends to deal with the Commission’s inquiry.

The Commission added that it could not provide an update on the inquiry, so as to not prejudice its outcome.

 

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