Olly Benzecry announced as new Chair of Trustees

14 December
An image of Olly Benzecry

Olly Benzecry has been announced as our new Chair of Trustees. Olly will take up his position in May 2023.

Olly is already deeply involved with organisations helping to solve under-employment. He is Chair of Movement to Work and also Chair of WithYouWithMe, an organisation focused on solving under-employment for under-represented groups, including veterans, refugees, women and neurodiverse people. He sits on the UK\’s Digital Economy Council and also the Corporate Development Boards of the Natural History Museum and Cancer Research UK.

Most recently, Olly was the Chairman and Managing Director of Accenture in UK and Ireland.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Speaking about his appointment, Olly said “I am honoured to be joining Shaw Trust as Chair. In recent years we have witnessed the impact of Brexit, a global pandemic, war in Europe and a cost-of-living crisis. The work Shaw Trust undertakes in creating opportunity and challenging inequity has never been more important, and I look forward to being able to play my part.

“I am delighted to be joining a trustee board recognised for its excellence, having recently achieved the Charity Times Trustee Board of the Year Award. Much of this is down to the exceptional work of my predecessor, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE, who has led Shaw Trust for more than nine years. I look forward to building on his legacy and want to thank him for his immense contribution to the Trust while Chair.”

Olly’s role as Chair means he will lead Shaw Trust and all our component parts including Homes2Inspire, the largest not-for-profit residential children’s home provider in the UK, Ofsted Outstanding training provider, Ixion, careers development company Prospects, multi-academy trust Shaw Education Trust, disability charity DLF and educational improvement provider, Optimus Education. ​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Chris Luck CB MBE, Chief Executive of Shaw Trust said “As CEO I am truly delighted that Olly is joining us as our new Chair. Olly’s passion, drive and empathy will enable us to continue to open the doors of those who make policy at national and local government level in order to create greater equality of opportunity for those who need our help, and for whom Shaw Trust is a lifeline. Olly’s experience as a senior executive and leader at Accenture brings a wealth of strategic management and leadership to guide us forward.

​​​​​​​“I am eternally grateful for the work of our retiring Chair, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE, for his vision and determination to place the not-for-profit sector at the heart of helping the vulnerable to fulfil their potential despite the many barriers that they face.”

Header image courtesy of Lisbon Council via Flickr.

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To find out more about Chris follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.