Historic Bath charity St John’s Foundation has appointed a new chief executive. Catharine Brown has been serving as the organisation’s interim head since last July.
Before that she was at the helm of Designability, a national charity creating life-changing products for disabled people.
St John’s is one of Britain’s oldest charities and works with housing and outreach services to help older adults live independently for longer. It also supports people who have reached a point of crisis in their lives, while also working to create communities where children can grow up happy, healthy, and well-educated.
“I am delighted to take on the role of CEO at such a pivotal moment for St John’s,” she said. “This charity has a remarkable history of supporting the community in Bath and the local area, and I look forward to building on that legacy with fresh ideas, renewed energy and a clear vision for the future.
“Change brings opportunity, and I am excited to work with our team and partners to ensure St John’s continues to grow, evolve and make a meaningful difference to the people we serve.”
Ms Brown started her career in marketing leadership roles at Selfridges and Marks & Spencer before becoming global marketing director at The Economist group.
Since transitioning into the charity sector, she has held senior roles in marketing, fundraising and leadership at national charities as well as founding her own consultancy business.
Sandy Forbes, chair of St John’s, said, “On behalf of the trustees, I am delighted to welcome Catharine as our CEO. Having recently taken on the role of chair myself, I know how important it is to honour the incredible 850-year legacy of this charity while ensuring we continue to evolve for the future.
“Starting our roles at a similar time gives us a fantastic opportunity to work closely together, bringing new energy and a shared commitment to making a lasting impact in our community. I look forward to collaborating with Catharine and the entire team to build on St John’s proud history and ensure we keep making a real difference in our community.”
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