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Citizens Advice announces three new trustees

11 September 2017

Three new trustees have joined the trustee board at Citizens Advice.

The new appointments come as Mark Gamsu, Anne Stephenson and Jonathan Rees all step down at the end of their second terms as trustees of the national charity.

Up to twelve members sit on the Citizens Advice trustee board, each bringing a different skill set and expertise which reflects the variety of the organisation’s work. Trustees can serve a maximum of two, three-year terms.

Will Cavendish will bring to the Citizens Advice trustee board his experience of managing big public facing projects and of digital transformation. This experience comes from working as a senior civil servant at the Cabinet Office and the Department of Health, where he led on projects such as the mass take-up of online booking and prescription services and Change4Life, aimed at tackling obesity, and from his time working as Strategy Lead at Google DeepMind, the world-leading technology company.

Mark Haysom will add valuable experience in working with senior figures in government from his time as Chief Executive of the Learning & Skills Council, where he liaised with numerous education ministers and Secretaries of State. He also has a thirty year career in newspapers rising from a trainee journalist on a local newspaper to Managing Director of Mirror Group, and has served on the boards of a number of charities, including the St Giles Trust, Action Aid and Phoenix Futures

With a career in HR and operational roles spanning companies such as Vodafone, B&Q and Dixons, Andrew Stephenson will bring knowledge of managing change and leading cultural transformation in large organisations. Andrew currently works as Group People Director at Lookers - one of the UK’s leading automotive dealer groups - and has previously held positions as group HR and property director at DFS Furniture.

These appointments bring the Citizens Advice trustee board up to eleven members, and the charity will soon be recruiting to fill one further vacancy.

Chair of Citizens Advice, Sir David Varney, said:

“It’s a great step for Citizens Advice to welcome our new trustees. Their experience and expertise will be very valuable as we continue to modernise our service and make sure we are as sustainable and effective as possible.

“I’m proud that we have such a knowledgeable and talented board of trustees, and it really speaks to Citizens Advice’s reputation that such excellent candidates applied to join us.”

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice said:

“I am looking forward to working with our new trustees. They will each bring unique skills and insight to the trustee board, and will help us make sure we are delivering the best service we can for people who need it.

“Every year Citizens Advice helps millions of people deal with problems from navigating the benefits system, to managing their money and complaining about consumer goods. It’s vital that we draw on the experience of all our trustees to maintain and improve our service and I’m sure the appointment of Will, Andrew and Mark will help us achieve that aim.”

Will Cavendish said:

“​I am delighted to have the opportunity to serve as a trustee for Citizens Advice, a charity which makes such a big impact on so many people’s lives. I look forward to using my experience of delivering major projects ​and of digital transformation ​to help guide the service and to make sure that we continue to achieve the best outcomes for those who turn to us for help.”

Mark Haysom said:

“Having worked with a number of charities dedicated to challenging poverty and disadvantage, I am excited to join the trustee board at Citizens Advice, which does so much to help people solve their problems. I hope to make the most of my experience of working in government to help Citizens Advice be as effective and influential as possible.”

Andrew Stephenson said:

“Citizens Advice is a fantastic organisation, which helps people from all walks of life solve any number of problems. I am very proud to have been appointed as a trustee, and look forward to bringing my experience of managing corporate cultures to making Citizens Advice a great place to work, volunteer and seek help.”

From 12 September, the Trustee Board will be as follows:

Sir David Varney - Chair

Warren Buckley - Deputy Chair

John Woodman - Treasurer

Fran Keene

Barbara Shaw

Rolande Anderson

Ashok Vaswani

Lucy Inmonger

Andrew Stephenson

Mark Haysom

Will Cavendish

-ends-

Notes to editors

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local Citizens Advice, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
  3. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk
  4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers.
  5. Local Citizens Advice in England and Wales advised 2.5 million clients on 6.2 million problems in 2014/15. For full service statistics see our publication Advice trends.
  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 service outlets across England and Wales.