Meet our senior leadership team

Rachel joined automotive industry charity, Ben, in September 2018 and has over 22 years of expertise working within health and wellbeing. Rachel was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer on 1^st November 2024, after previously holding the role of Health & Wellbeing Director at the charity. Since joining Ben, Rachel has been responsible for leading the charity’s Health & Wellbeing services which provide life-changing support to those who work, or have worked, in the automotive industry and their family dependents. Rachel has led a significant programme of transformation, during a time when the charity has also experienced substantial growth in service demand and charitable impact.

Rachel has a significant track record as a subject matter expert in health, work, and wellbeing. She previously led integrated employability and workplace health and wellbeing programmes for two large welfare-to-work provider organisations, in her roles as Head of Health & Wellbeing Services at Ingeus and Health Director for PeoplePlus.

A University of Birmingham Physiotherapy graduate, starting her career working within the NHS, Rachel went on to gain automotive industry experience as the onsite Physiotherapist for Peugeot at their Tile Hill plant in Coventry. Rachel has also had a successful sporting career as a former Olympian (Beijing, 2008) with over 140 international appearances for Great Britain & England women’s hockey teams.

Matt is the Director of Growth & Development at Ben, where he leads all income-generating activities, including fundraising, events, corporate partnerships, commercial ventures, and the charity’s wellbeing solution, BenLife.

Matt became a member of Ben’s executive team in 2018, as Fundraising Director, and has played a pivotal role in driving strategic growth and strengthening industry engagement with the charity. Since joining Ben in 2015 as Head of Partnership Development, Matt has brought extensive experience in B2B sales and strategic partnerships across both the commercial and non-profit sectors. 

Matt’s background includes senior positions at the Royal Horticultural Society and Whizz-Kidz, alongside over 15 years in the travel sector. This blend of commercial acumen and charitable insight enables him to develop impactful partnerships and shape Ben’s growth strategy for the long-term.

Martin Smith is Ben’s Director of Finance, Governance & Impact. Martin leads the Finance, Technology, and Data & Insights team, as well as overseeing Charitable Impact for an interim period. Martin is also working with Rachel Clift, CEO, to support the operational delivery of Ben’s Support & Specialist Services.

Martin has worked in the charitable sector for over 20 years, primarily as a Finance Director for benevolent fund charities. He has focused on charity missions and supporting as many people as possible from those communities, helping them to navigate life’s challenges and live their best lives - something that aligns with Ben’s new vision and purpose.

Alongside Martin’s financial expertise, he has a wealth of experience leading organisations through strategic change, including digital transformation and supporting the development of new income opportunities to fund and grow charitable impact.

Ellen Plumer is Ben’s Head of Awareness & Experience. Ellen has worked at Ben for 10 years, performing various roles across the charity, including Head of Service Development and Head of Employer Services & Partnerships.

Ellen also has over 20 years of experience working in the third sector. With a strong track record in strategic management, leadership development, and change management, Ellen is experienced in creating meaningful change that drives performance, engagement, and impact. 

Ellen is focused on increasing awareness, driving growth, and maximising Ben’s charitable impact. She spends a lot of time travelling across the UK, spreading the word about the vital support that Ben provides to the automotive industry’s workforce. Ellen is highly motivated by the mission to ensure everyone in the automotive sector knows that Ben is there to support them when they hit a bump in their road. 

Sarah D’Addio is Head of HR at Ben. She joined the organisation in 2023 as Interim HR Project Manager and is an accomplished HR professional with a strong focus on employee relations and organisational change. With over two decades of experience, spanning both strategic and operational HR, she brings a broad and balanced HR perspective, shaped by hands-on leadership in fast-paced environments.

Before joining Ben, Sarah spent more than 20 years at Ann Summers Ltd, where she was the only People Partner at the company. In this position, she was a member of the senior leadership team, supporting the business, which had over 1,000 employees. Sarah led and developed HR teams while partnering closely with board members and senior leaders to deliver on people strategies that aligned with evolving business needs.

At Ben, Sarah has played a pivotal role in supporting the transfer of five care homes and the re-organisation of Head Office functions. She has ensured a fair approach to change, balancing legal compliance and operational needs with a deep commitment to colleague wellbeing and organisational integrity.

Jonathan joined Ben as Finance Director in June 2019.  A chartered accountant, qualifying with Coopers & Lybrand (now PriceWaterhouse Coopers), he brings over 20 years of senior management experience. Post qualification Jonathan held senior corporate finance roles within the European energy sector. 

Jonathan believes that the finance function has a critical part to play in helping deliver better outcomes for beneficiaries by helping others to look beyond the numbers.

Sarah Vance joined Ben in 2025 as PA & Assistant Company Secretary supporting the charity’s CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees as the organisation goes through a period of transformation and growth.

Sarah is a highly skilled Executive Assistant with over 35 years of experience, having worked in many pivotal roles during her career. Sarah has a proven track record of supporting senior leadership teams across a variety of sectors, including environmental charities, property and leisure, manufacturing, and telecommunications. She has a versatile skill set in executive support, governance, HR processes, office management, and financial administration.

Most recently, Sarah served as Executive Assistant & Clerk to the Board of Trustees at the Heart of England Forest, where she supported governance and compliance functions for this leading environmental charity. 

Known for her discretion, organisational excellence, and ability to adapt across diverse business environments, Sarah is passionate about creating seamless support structures that enable executive teams to lead effectively.