The Hunter Foundation steps up its control over troubled children's charity fundraiser
The Hunter Foundation has taken over the running of struggling charity the Kiltwalk and replaced its entire board.
Ewan Hunter, chief executive of the charitable foundation set up by of multi-millionaire Sir Tom Hunter, has been appointed as interim chairman of the charity replacing Michael Ure.
Sean Tracey, the former chief executive of five-a-side football organisation the Powerleague, and Mark Harvey, partner at accountants Ernst and Young have also been appointed to the board.
The children’s charity fundraiser has been embroiled in controversy since February, when TFN revealed four of its major partners had withdrawn over concerns of how much money was being filtered through to good causes.
The following month its chief executive Carey McEvoy stood down from his £70,000 a year post saying the board was working on a programme to restructure in order to cut overheads.
We intend to redefine and improve the model, building on the foundations already in place, to maximize returns for charities and turbo-charge Scotland’s Kiltwalkers for 2016
The announcement of the board changes follows on from The Hunter Foundation in April revealing it was to offer “strategic and financial support” to the Kiltwalk.
Of the changes Sir Tom Hunter, said: “The Kiltwalk is a fantastic concept for raising much needed funds for Scotland’s children’s charities and has our absolute support.
“We intend over the next couple of months to redefine and improve the model, building on the foundations already in place, to maximize returns for charities and turbo-charge Scotland’s Kiltwalkers for 2016.”
The new board are expected to announce a number of changes to The Kiltwalk for 2016 once the walks already scheduled for 2015 are completed.
All past trustees have now stood down, however outgoing chairman Michael Ure will support the new trustees in an advisory capacity over the next couple of months.
Ure added: "The retiring board of trustees leave safe in the knowledge that after what has been a turbulent period, we are delighted to have secured the future of The Kiltwalk through the involvement of Sir Tom Hunter and the Hunter Foundation.
“We have overseen phenomenal growth and passion for The Kiltwalk since 2010 and look forward to this exciting new chapter, aimed at raising even more money for children's charities across Scotland and, of course, our Scottish kids.
“To all our charity partners, Kilties, sponsors and beneficiaries thank you for your tremendous support over the years. However a special note of thanks must go to our Kiltwalkers, teams and staff, we just could not have done it without you.
“We wish the incoming trustees every success as custodians of a very unique charity that is the Kiltwalk family."
