A man with senior management experience at Greene King and Starbucks has today been named as the chief executive of Help for Heroes.
James Needham will head the armed forces support organisation on a permanent basis after stepping in as interim chief executive following the departure of Melanie Waters in October 2022.
Needham joined the charity in 2018 as chief operating officer and has been instrumental in the development of its 10-year strategy.
He previously spent more than 15 years working in operations management within the hospitality sector, including for pub retailer and brewer Greene King and international coffeehouse chain Starbucks.
Needham said: “I am proud and humbled to be appointed chief executive of Help for Heroes.
“In my five years at the charity, I have seen first-hand the dedication and energy of colleagues as they deliver extraordinary impact for veterans and families living with long-term health conditions.
“I am thrilled to lead this team into the future and honour our promise to provide direct and practical support to beneficiaries for as long as they need us.”
Chair of trustees Sir Nigel Boardman said: “James is a man of high integrity who has a genuine and passionate belief in helping members of our Armed Forces community.
“From his time at the charity and previous experience in the private sector we know that he has a proven track record of results and the necessary skills to lead our organisation into the future.
“I am confident that under James’ leadership, Help for Heroes will continue to go from strength to strength, ensuring more veterans and their families can live well after service.”
The charity supports veterans from any branch of the UK military – regulars or reserves – irrespective of length or place of service, as well as locally embedded civilians (and their families) who worked alongside our armed forces.