Catharine Brown has been appointed permanent chief executive of the Bath-based community charity the St John’s Foundation, after serving on an interim basis for more than six months.

Brown took up the post on an interim basis in July, when the charity’s former chief executive, David Hobdey, retired after six years at the helm of the charity, which supports older people, children and those in crisis.

Before taking up the interim post, Brown had spent eight months as a trustee of the charity, which celebrated its 850th anniversary last year.

She was also the chief executive of the charity Designability, which creates products for disabled people, between 2019 and 2023.

Brown previously held long-term director roles at the Young Lives vs Cancer and the Bath-based charity Ripple Effect. 

Before joining the charity sector, she held marketing leadership roles at Selfridges and Marks & Spencer, later becoming the global marketing director at The Economist Group.

She has also been a trustee for ActionAid UK and the National Centre for Accessible Transport.

Brown said: “This charity has a remarkable history of supporting the community in Bath and the local area, and I look forward to building on that legacy with fresh ideas, renewed energy and a clear vision for the future. 

“Change brings opportunity, and I am excited to work with our team and partners to ensure St John’s continues to grow, evolve and make a meaningful difference to the people we serve.”

Sandy Forbes, chair of St John’s Foundation, said: “Having recently taken on the role of chair myself, I know how important it is to honour the incredible 850-year legacy of this charity while ensuring we continue to evolve for the future. 

“Starting our roles at a similar time gives us a fantastic opportunity to work closely together, bringing new energy and a shared commitment to making a lasting impact in our community. I look forward to collaborating with Catharine and the entire team to build on St John’s proud history and ensure we keep making a real difference in our community.”