CharityComms chairman and founder Joe Saxton steps down

Saxton helped launch the group, a professional membership body for charity comms professionals, and will be leaving the role in November.

He said: ‘When a small group of communicators met back in 2005, we had a vision of creating a body that would support the professional development of our sector and build the skills and expertise of charity communicators. It has been a great privilege to work with many people over the last seven years to start bringing that vision to reality.’

CharityComms seeks to improve the standard of comms and champion its role in the sector.

Earlier this year it went into battle with the Newspaper Licensing Agency over laws it said cost the voluntary sector £1.3m a year.

The group is now on the hunt for a new chairman to head up its trustee board, with the application deadline and interviews later this month.

Saxton, also founder of research consultancy for the not-for-profit sector nfpSynergy, added: ‘The appetite for the work of CharityComms has been greater than I think any of us expected and we are now financially strong, delivering for communicators and championing the work of our sector. The time is right to move on and let the next phase of CharityComms’ evolution start.’

CharityComms director Vicky Browning said that without Saxton’s ‘original vision and ongoing support’ the organisation would not exist.

She added: ‘We’ll miss his unique energy, enthusiasm and inspiration, but he leaves the organisation in a position of great strength. Membership is growing steadily and we’re continually developing the service offering to our members.

‘Joe’s departure represents a terrific opportunity for the right person to help shape the future of CharityComms and to ensure we continually offer services which enhance the professional and personal development of charity communications professionals.’

This article was first published on prweek.com