GoodGym hires chief executive
GoodGym has appointed Hannah Crane as its next chief executive following an open recruitment process earlier this year.
Crane, who has spent two decades in the sport and youth sectors and is currently a senior leader at charity StreetGames, will take up the role mid July.
She said: “It’s a huge honour to be joining GoodGym. I have followed the charity's growth for many years.
“I arrive full of enthusiasm and I’m keen to learn,” Crane added.
King’s Foundation appoints CEO and chair
The King’s Foundation has confirmed Emily Cherrington as its chief executive and appointed Nicholas Coleridge as chair.
Cherrington, who has been acting chief executive and worked at the foundation since 2017, has been appointed CEO with immediate effect.
She said: “I am looking forward to leading the charity as it continues to grow and working closely with Sir Nicholas and the board.”
Coleridge added that he was delighted to take on the role and praised the charity’s mission.
St Catherine’s Hospice announces CEO’s retirement
St Catherine’s Hospice has announced that its chief executive Giles Tomsett will retire at the end of next January after more than a decade as leader.
Tomsett, who joined the organisation 12 years ago, has overseen milestones including the hospice’s 2016 rebrand and the opening of a “purpose-built” facility in Pease Pottage.
Reflecting on his tenure, Tomsett said it had been a privilege to serve the charity.
The charity on 10 June said the recruitment process to appoint Tomsett’s successor would begin immediately.
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust replaces chief executive
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust has appointed Sarah Roberts as its next chief executive who will join the charity in the autumn.
Roberts, formerly chief executive of international development organisations Practical Action and the Ethical Tea Partnership, replaces Xavier Brice who left in April.
She said she was excited to join the organisation at a pivotal moment.
Interim chief executive Harry Hayer will remain in post until Roberts’ arrival.
Acting chair named at Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust
Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust has confirmed that trustee William Downs will become acting chair after the resignation of Tom Pratt.
Downs, who joined the board in 2021 after a career in commercial law, will serve in the role until a permanent chair is elected at the charity’s December AGM.
He said it was an honour to lead the organisation and praised Pratt’s contribution.
Sense appoints seven trustees
National disability charity Sense has hired seven trustees to expand its board to 13.
They bring expertise in disability inclusion, safeguarding, education and social justice, among other areas.
The new trustees are: Allen Thurston, Christine Kane, Danielle Bridge, Katharine Sacks-Jones, Leigh Fontaine, Martyn Sibley and Tania Hudson.
James Watson-O'Neill, Sense CEO, said: “We are delighted to welcome our new trustees, whose breadth of expertise and lived experience will strengthen our work.”
Young Women’s Trust brings in four trustees
Young Women’s Trust has appointed four trustees.
Steph Driver, Phil Kerry, Gianina Harvey Brewin and Grace Wyld are the fresh hires.
Driver was former Number 10 director of communications, Kerry chief executive of the New Horizon Youth Centre, Harvey-Brewin a dean at the University of Roehampton and Wyld currently works at a think tank.
Emma Norris, Young Women’s Trust chair, said: “Bringing together the breadth of experience from our four new trustees will help us to forge ahead with our mission at a time.”
Trustees join Team Solan
North East cancer charity Team Solan has added trustees Ryan Hudson and Simon Davies to its roster.
Hudson, a business owner and investor, and Davies, a senior finance professional, will be joined shortly by solicitor Kim Nielson.
Michelle Atkinson has also recently taken up the role of fundraising and development lead at the charity.
Mark Solan, founder, said: “The new team brings expertise that will help us reach even more families affected by cancer.”
Diagrama Foundation announces two trustees
Diagrama Foundation has appointed Richard Dunn and Helen Dean as new trustees.
Dunn previously served as Diagrama’s head of HR having joined in 2013 while Dean spent 17 years with the Metropolitan Police Service.
Both have worked with the charity in previous roles and will now contribute to its board.
Dean said: “To be able to contribute to Diagrama’s ongoing development of services to support vulnerable people to achieve their full potential is a real privilege.”
New chair hired at Ashden
Climate charity Ashden has appointed Gavin Sheppard as its chair, succeeding founder Sarah Butler Sloss who will become an ambassador.
Sheppard is CEO of sustainability platform Pinwheel and previously held senior roles at Smart Energy GB and Media Trust.
London-based charity Ashden, which also has King Charles as a patron, was founded by Butler-Sloss in 2000.
Sheppard said: “The climate crisis does not have a solutions problem – it has a visibility problem, a trust problem and a systems problem, and I look forward to working with the team to help address these challenges.”
Valuable 500 gets new chair of foundation board
The Valuable 500 has appointed Mark Hodgkinson as chair of its foundation board, succeeding Jeff Dodds.
Hodgkinson, who has spent the past seven years as chief executive of Scope, brings experience in disability inclusion and organisational leadership.
Katy Talikowska, chief executive, thanked Dodds for his long-standing contribution as a founding supporter and beyond.
She added: “I am delighted to welcome Mark Hodgkinson as our new chair. Mark's experience, his passion for disability inclusion, and his extensive knowledge make him the ideal person to lead.”
Macmillan Cancer Support brings in chair
Macmillan Cancer Support has appointed financial services expert David Bennett as chair.
Bennett, who joined the board in 2025, also holds non executive roles at Allfunds Group, PayPal UK and the Department for Work and Pensions.
He succeeds Richard Murley who served as chair until March 2026.
Gemma Peters, chief executive, said: “David brings the leadership experience and strategic depth […] alongside genuine commitment to the people Macmillan exists to serve.”
Pennies hires advisory board members and ambassadors
Pennies has announced new appointments to its advisory board and a group of newly formalised ambassadors.
The fresh board members include senior leaders from Pizza Hut International, Burger King UK, ODEON Cinemas Group and digital commerce.
Incoming ambassadors include long-standing supporters from technology, retail and charity partnerships.
The appointees to the hospitality and leisure advisory board are Nicolas Burquier, Tim Doubleday, Suzie Welch.
Marjorie Leonidas joins the retail and services advisory board.
Pennies has also announced new ambassadors Mike Butler, Matt Bradley, Gary Grant, and Paul Seaman.
Trustee reappointed to V&A Museum board
Rosalind Polly Blakesley has been reappointed as a trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum for a further four-year term.
Blakesley, an art historian and master of Pembroke College in Cambridge has served on several major cultural boards and brings extensive experience in Russian and European art.
She will continue to chair the V&A Research Committee and her new term will commence in September, running to the same month in 2030.
Blakesley said: “I’m very excited to continue supporting the V&A’s work and to contribute to its ongoing research and development.”
ODI hires non-executive director
The Open Data Institute (ODI) has appointed Jacky Wright as a non-executive director.
Wright, former senior partner and chief technology officer at McKinsey, brings more than 30 years of experience in digital transformation and is a renowned BAME female leader.
She joins a board that includes ODI founders Tim Berners Lee and Nigel Shadbolt, and will support the organisation’s work to build an open and trustworthy data ecosystem.
Shadbolt said: “Jacky is one of the most accomplished technology leaders of her generation, and we are delighted to welcome her to the ODI Board.”
Principle Trust Children’s Charity names patron
The Principle Trust Children’s Charity has welcomed Liam Burton as a patron.
Burton, who founded Yorkshire-based firm Roof Spec, has previously taken part in charitable events including the Three Peaks Challenge and spent various Christmas Days visiting the homeless.
As a patron, he will support the charity’s fundraising and help raise awareness of its work.
Kerry Magson, charity partnerships and engagement manager, said: “Liam’s fundraising will contribute to our respite breaks, which are proven to help improve mental health and wellbeing, aid recuperation and help families in difficulty have a more positive outlook.”
