Veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress has announced that their Director of Resources Jeff Harrison will step into the role of Interim Chief Executive when current CEO Sue Freeth leaves the post at the end of January.
Sue will work with Jeff to ensure a smooth transition until 1 February when his leadership begins. He will lead the charity until a permanent Chief Executive is in post. Meanwhile, the Executive Team will increase their responsibilities to support Jeff as both Interim CEO and Director of Resources. Jeff has the full support of the executive leadership team and the Board of Trustees.
Chairman Giles Peel said:
“I am delighted that Jeff has agreed to lead Combat Stress until a permanent Chief Executive is found. Having been with the charity since 2013, he has the right skills and experience and is greatly respected by the staff.
“Under Sue’s leadership, Combat Stress has been modernised and transformed into a strong position with dedicated and well-trained staff, a new sustainable service model and a redesigned organisation that enables us to balance income with expenditure. The search for a permanent successor to Sue Freeth continues and I am confident we will find the best candidate for this important role. I look forward to resuming our search in the new year.”
Jeff said:
“I am grateful to the Board of Trustees and the staff at Combat Stress for their trust in me to lead this charity until a permanent Chief Executive is appointed. This year has seen Combat Stress face unprecedented challenges, but we have emerged stronger. I am honoured to be given the responsibility of ensuring this charity goes from strength to strength as we continue to help veterans with complex mental health problems to tackle the past and take on the future.”
