Chief departs Walk Wheel Cycle Trust after decade
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust has announced the departure of Xavier Brice who has been at the charity for more than 10 years.
Brice joined the trust in 2016 when it was named Sustrans and was credited with delivering 500 miles of routes of the National Cycle Network.
The outgoing chief executive said: “After 10 years leading this brilliant charity, and with a strong new brand and strategy for the future in place, now feels the right time to pass the baton on.”
Harry Hayer, an executive at the charity, will replace Brice as interim-CEO when he departs for SLR, a sustainability consultancy.
CEO of Rise Up set to leave
Roman Dibden has announced he is stepping down as chief executive of Rise Up.
Rise Up, which supports young people into work and education, will see its CEO depart on 6 February.
Dibden leaves after more than two years as chief executive. He was previously chief commercial officer at the Changing Education Group for over five years.
He said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together over the past two years.
“As I take a short pause before what comes next, I remain hugely committed to tackling youth unemployment and exclusion.”
Freedom Fund chief announces departure
Freedom Fund chief executive Nick Grono has announced he will step down after 13 years in the job.
Grono, the charity’s first staff member in 2014, said that the fund’s nomination board is managing the search for his successor.
The outgoing chief executive said: “I love leading this organisation and working with my wonderful colleagues. And I continue to be deeply inspired by our mission to end slavery and human trafficking.
“But the time is right, and I don’t want to be a leader who stays on till or beyond their use-by date.”
Chief of Social Care Institute for Excellence to step down
Chief executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) Kathryn Marsden will step down at the end of the month.
Marsden, who led the institute for almost six years, will leave the organisation at the end of February this year.
She has had a 36-year career in social care and leaves the institute to take up the position of chief executive at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity.
Marsden said: “I am leaving SCIE incredibly proud of what we have been able to achieve.
Gerard Crofton-Martin, who joined SCIE in 2016, will take over as interim chief executive.
Scope CEO set to leave
Scope chief executive Mark Hodgkinson is set to leave after seven years at the helm.
Hodgkinson has announced his intention to handover as chief executive on 31 March to make way for the director of services to become interim CEO on 1 April.
John McLachlan, who has been at Scope for 38 years, will step in as interim.
Hodgkinson said: “As I reach my 65th birthday, it feels like the right time for both myself, and Scope, to embrace new opportunities.
“I leave Scope with strong government relationships and a large, engaged community of disabled people.”
Zero Waste Scotland appoints chief executive
Zero Waste Scotland has announced the appointment of Ciaran McGuigan as its chief executive.
McGuigan, the charity’s finance and corporate services director, succeeds Iain Gulland who stepped down after 11 years in the job.
McGuigan took up his post yesterday.
Anti-Slavery International hires interim chief executive
Mark Goldring has been appointed interim chief executive of Anti-Slavery International.
His appointment follows the departure of Helen Moulinos who stepped down last month.
Goldring has previously led refugee charity Asylum Welcome, Oxfam GB and Mencap, as well as international volunteer organisation VSO.
Anti-Slavery UK said: “We look forward to working with Mark and are confident that his broad experience will help Anti-Slavery International continue to drive its mission.”
Championing Social Care appoints chair
Vishal Shah has been appointed chair of Championing Social Care.
Shah will replace founding chair Avnish Goyal who has been at the charity for five years. Goyal will remain as a supporter of the charity and a board member.
The incoming CEO was previously Championing Social Care vice chair and as treasurer of Care England.
Shah said: “It is a real privilege to have been elected into the role of chair of Championing Social Care.”
Chair hire made at Living Streets
John Dales has been hired as chair of Living Streets.
Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, has brought in Dales who has 40 years’ experience as a transport planner, traffic engineer and urban designer.
He was also a Living Streets trustee from 2011 to 2018 and will take over the role from Jane Roberts when her term ends on 31 March this year.
Dales said: “The mission of Living Streets has always been close to my heart. I am hugely excited at now having the privilege of leading the charity.”
London Marathon boards appoint chairs
Dawn Austwick and Damien Lane have been appointed chairs by the London Marathon group.
Austwick will serve as chair of the London Marathon Foundation board while Lane has been appointed interim chair of the events company’s board of directors.
Prior to this, Austwick has been a trustee since 2017 and served as a vice-chair at the charity.
Nick Bitel, CEO of London Marathon Group, said: “Dawn and Damien have already made hugely valuable contributions as members of our boards.
“I’m looking forward to working with them in their new roles.”
Barnabus announces appointments of co-chairs
Homelessness charity Barnabus has announced the appointments of Laura Thomas and Maxine Blackwell as co-chairs.
Thomas has spent two-and-a-half years as managing director at digital marketing agency at Monitor Creative.
Blackwell has worked in manufacturing and retail, as well as in social housing.
Yvonne Hope, Barnabus CEO, said: “We are overjoyed to have Laura and Maxine’s combined experience and skills on the board of trustees.”
Chair hire made at the Molly Huggins Foundation
Qadeer Kiani has been appointed as chair of the Molly Huggins Foundation.
The Molly Huggins Foundation, the charitable arm of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, has appointed Kiani who succeeds interim chair Kush Rawal.
Kiani has worked in social housing for almost four decades and has held senior management positions at housing associations such as Populo, Hightown and Pinnacle.
The new chair said: “I look forward to working with residents, partners and colleagues across MTVH to focus on practical support.”
OSCR brings in deputy chair
The Scottish charity regulator has brought in Robin Strang as its deputy chair.
Strang will serve as deputy chair from 1 March 2026 until 31 March 2030, OSCR has announced.
Between 2008 and 2019 he was chief executive of charities in Scotland and England tasked with improving young peoples’ physical and mental wellbeing.
Strang is also a trustee of EPIC Assist Scotland and a board member of Scottish Canals.
Neurologist becomes trustee at Dravet Syndrome UK
Neurologist Elaine Hughes has been selected as a board trustee at Dravet Syndrome UK.
The charity, which supports people affected by complex epilepsy, has hired Hughes after she retired in October 2025 as a consultant paediatric neurologist at Evelina London Children’s Hospital and King’s College Hospital.
Hughes, a founding member of the charity’s medical advisory board, said: “I am honoured to be joining Dravet Syndrome UK as a trustee after many years on the medical advisory board.
“It is a privilege to support families living with this complex condition.”
Cancer Research UK brings in executive director and CFO
Cancer Research UK has appointed Claudia Nicholls as executive director of marketing, fundraising and engagement.
Nicholls will join the charity on 2 March 2026 having served as chief customer officer at Simplyhealth, where she was on its executive committee.
She succeeds Phil Almond who will retire at the end of May and will formally take up her post in April.
Nicholls said: “I’m honoured to join Cancer Research UK at such a significant time for the charity.
“Like so many, my life has been affected by cancer, and that experience strengthens my commitment to helping accelerate progress.”
Meanwhile, Matthew Lynn has been hired as Cancer Research UK’s new chief financial officer.
Lynn joins from Nuffield Health where he led finance, strategy and data risk teams, among other sections.
He was also a senior director in the government and health industries team at PwC.
Lynn said: “I look forward to working with my new teams and colleagues across the organisation to help ensure the charity is well positioned to deliver its mission of beating cancer.”
NMITE appoints trustees
The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has appointed Bill Jackson, Julian Drinkall and Natasha Rothbucher-Thomas as trustees.
Jackson has worked as chair of the Enterprise Zone at Rotherwas, a business community, and a supporter of NMITE’s centre for advanced technology.
Drinkall previously served as chief of the Aga Khan Schools network and CEO of Academies Enterprise Trust, as well as head of financial and commercial strategy at the BBC.
Rothbucher-Thomas has more than 10 years’ experience as a research fellow in sustainable construction, science and engineering.
James Newby, president and NMITE chief, said: “Each brings not only professional expertise but also a commitment to NMITE’s mission of creating the engineers and problem-solvers the world needs.”
Trustee appointment made at the Wolfson Foundation
The Wolfson Foundation has announced the appointment of Nancy Rothwell to its board of trustees.
Rothwell has served as president and vice chancellor of the University of Manchester since 2010 is a member of the councils of the Royal Society, Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK.
She has also worked as a non-executive director of AstraZeneca and as co-chair of the prime minister’s council for science and technology.
Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity picks director
The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity has picked Gordon Michie as director north to join its senior leadership time.
Michie will be tasked with expanding the charity’s presence across Scotland and Northern England.
He has experience in the military and charity sectors, including as a Royal Air Force veteran and a senior fundraiser at a major UK veterans charity.
Michie said: “I am honoured to join Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity.
“I am looking forward to working with colleagues, partners and communities across the North to ensure that vital support reaches those who need it.”
Former music executive becomes RSA director
Former Universal Music UK executive Charlotte Thomson has been appointed director of strategy and commerce at the Royal Society of Arts.
Thomson has worked as a strategist for organisations such as the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Cancer Research UK and the Gatsby Foundation.
She said: “I’m over the moon to join the team and help bring that story to life, at the intersection of strategy, purpose and creativity.”
