St John’s Foundation has welcomed Catharine Brown as its new CEO following seven months during which she performed the role on an interim basis.
Catharine, pictured, has been appointed by Bath’s oldest charity following a highly competitive selection process.
The board of trustees at St John’s, which celebrated its 850th anniversary last year, said they had unanimously agreed that Catharine should lead the charity into its next chapter.
They pointed to her impressive background in leadership, strategy and impact-driven change, saying she brought a fresh perspective and a deep commitment to ensuring St John’s continued to evolve and thrive.
The charity, the 11th oldest in England, supports older adults in the community by providing accommodation in its 94 almshouse apartments and delivers outreach services while also working to foster an age-friendly community in collaboration with organisations such as Age UK.
Another key strand of its work is to support individuals and families that have reached a point of crisis through its Crisis Programme.
Catharine’s career began in marketing leadership roles at Selfridges and Marks & Spencer, then becoming global marketing director in The Economist group.
She moved to the charity sector in 2005 after relocating to Bath and has since held long-term interim director roles at five national charities, including Young Lives vs Cancer and Bath-based Ripple Effect (the organisation working with families in rural Africa, previously Send a Cow).
Most recently, she was chief executive of Designability, the Bath-headquartered national charity dedicated to creating life-changing products for disabled people.
Catharine said: “I am delighted to take on the role of CEO at such a pivotal moment for St John’s.
“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.”
Catharine’s appointment comes a month after Sandra Forbes, one of Bath’s leading business figures, became St John’s new chair of trustees.
Sandra, pictured, is a distinguished banking and corporate lawyer with a proven track record in senior leadership positions.
She 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.”
St John’s Foundation’s almshouses are at Chapel Court in Bath city centre and Combe Park, next to the Royal United Hospital.
