The military charity Royal British Legion Industries has appointed Lisa Farmer as its chief executive.
She will become the first woman to lead the charity in its more than 100-year history, when its outgoing chief executive, Steve Sherry, retires after 12 years in post.
Farmer joined the RBLI as its director of strategic development in 2016, before being promoted to the role of deputy chief executive. The charity provides employment, welfare, health care and accommodation support to the country’s most disadvantaged military veterans and people with disabilities.
During her tenure at RBLI, Farmer has played an instrumental role in securing more than £34m in funding to expand the charity’s care provisions for vulnerable veterans and national employment support services, the organisation said in a statement.
She also led the organisation’s Centenary Village project – a £22m development that will enable RBLI to provide accessible homes to veterans in need.
Farmer said: “As RBLI embarks on another incredible period of growth, I am thrilled to begin my new role as chief executive and lead the charity to further success.
“I would like to express a huge thank you to Steve Sherry. Without his commitment and dedication as chief executive, RBLI simply would not have experienced the historic level of success it has over the past 12 years. I am honoured that Steve and the board have entrusted me to lead the charity forward as we enter into this exciting time ahead and I can’t wait to get started.”
Sherry said: “I leave RBLI at this exciting time in the extremely capable hands of Lisa Farmer. Her background in care, disability education and business development is exactly the right mix for RBLI’s services and ambitions.
“I know Lisa will serve the charity and its supporters with determination and passion, and will take RBLI’s successes to even greater heights.”