Boss who played key role in saving respite centre retires
The North Berwick based charity and national respite centre, Leuchie House, has announced the retirement of its chief executive Mairi O’Keefe MBE after 15 years at the helm.
O’Keefe has been a key part in the centre – which specialises in supporting those with long term neurological and physical conditions – since 2003. She oversaw the transition from it being run by the MS Society to becoming an independent charity in 2011.
From a standing start in 2011, Leuchie House is now widely regarded as a centre for excellence in respite care, and has become a major employer in East Lothian.
In the past seven years, O’Keefe and her team have been responsible for securing £4.5 million in grants from trust funds and donations from generous members of the public as well as invaluable support from the Scottish Government. This has enabled the charity to deliver 33,457 respite nights since setting up as an independent charity.
Confirming that she will be leaving Leuchie House in November, O’Keefe said: “Everyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about Leuchie House and the very special service we provide. It was always going to be difficult to step down, but I know I can do so feeling proud of everything we’ve achieved.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to my team – staff and volunteers – for all their support and commitment. I will miss them, our guests, and everyone else involved with Leuchie very much.”
O’Keefe will be replaced by Mark Bevan, who worked for Capability Scotland for more than a decade, and most recently was invited to lead the Scottish Council for Development and Industry to create and deliver a change programme.
New chief for Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation has announced the appointment of Mark Rowland as its new chief executive.
Rowland has been the foundation’s director of fundraising and communications for the past three years.
He brings with him a track record of growth and innovation from a range of international development organisations in the UK and abroad, including at Christian Aid and Voluntary Service Overseas.
He said: “The two big priorities for me are how we come together to take hold of the window of opportunity to lead the way in the prevention of mental health problems and secondly, how we build a growing, creative and potent organisation at the foundation where people can thrive.”
Cancer charity to boost Scottish presence
Pancreatic Cancer UK has appointed Nicolas White as its interim head of Scotland.
White, who also chairs the West of Scotland Cancer Network’s Psychological Therapies and Support Implementation Steering Group, will establish Pancreatic Cancer UK’s presence in Scotland across policy, campaigns and services.
The former head of Scotland for Breast Cancer Care, he has also worked in communications and policy roles at Quarriers and Action for Children.
Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer and survival rates have barely changed since the 1970s.
New director flies in
Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) has announced the appointment of Nick Harvey as director of fundraising and communications.
Harvey, who arrived in Scotland from Australia with his family last year, is an accomplished marketing and corporate affairs executive with over 20 years’ experience gained in the aeromedical, health and corporate sectors.
Having started his marketing career in the tabloid press in Australia, his career evolved to running advertising and marketing agencies - later expanding his experience to encompass work within the third sector, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and the St John of God Health Care Foundation
