Ben announces changes to new senior leadership team

Ben today announces changes to its senior leadership team as part of its new strategic direction.

Martin Smith has been appointed as Director of Finance, Governance & Impact. Martin will lead the Finance, Technology, and Data & Insights teams and oversee Charitable Impact on an interim basis, working closely with Rachel Clift, CEO, to support the operational delivery of Ben’s frontline Support & Specialist Services. Martin has over 20 years of experience in the charity sector, primarily as a Finance Director for benevolent fund charities. 

Ben is also announcing that Matt Wigginton, part of Ben’s former executive team, now holds a new job title as Director of Growth & Development. Since joining Ben in 2015, Matt has led the charity’s partnership and fundraising teams, drawing on extensive experience from both commercial and non-profit sectors. In his new role, Matt will lead Ben’s growth strategy for income generation through fundraising and business development activity, focusing on deepening engagement across the industry.

Additionally, Ellen Plumer has moved into the newly created role of Head of Awareness & Experience. Ellen has been with Ben for a decade, holding various senior management roles, most recently overseeing Ben’s marketing, communications, and outreach activity. Ellen maintains leadership of these areas but with additional responsibility for significantly raising awareness and enhancing the user experience of Ben for all stakeholders across the industry.

Finally, Sarah D’Addio has been appointed as Head of HR. Sarah has served as Interim HR Manager since 2023 and now formally joins the senior leadership team. With over two decades of HR experience, spanning both strategic and operational HR, she brings a broad and balanced HR perspective, shaped by hands-on leadership in fast-paced environments.

Gary Burgham, HR Director, and Zara Ross (former CEO who moved into the role of Transfer Programme Director) have now left Ben. Both played pivotal roles in supporting the organisation’s strategic direction to transfer its care and village services to suitable, alternative operators. Jonathan Cox, Finance Director, has also stepped down from his role, however, he will remain with Ben for a period to support the final stages of the transfer process. 

These changes and appointments form a new senior leadership team supporting Rachel Clift, CEO, who took up her role in 2024. Find out more about Ben’s new senior leadership team by visiting: www.ben.org.uk/SLT. 

Rachel Clift, CEO of Ben, said: “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Gary, Zara, and Jonathan for their outstanding contributions to Ben, especially during a time of immense change and transition. Their leadership and dedication have been instrumental in bringing us to this watershed moment in becoming a single-focused health and wellbeing charity dedicated to supporting the people who work, or have worked, in the automotive industry.  

“I’m delighted to welcome Martin, Ellen, Matt, and Sarah to their new roles. They each bring unique strengths, deep knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to Ben’s mission. With our new senior leadership team in place, we are now very well-positioned to grow our impact and support even more people in our automotive family. I look forward to what we can achieve together in the next chapter of Ben’s evolution.”

-ENDS-