One of the key figures in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic has stepped down as a trustee of the charity behind Parkrun after less than a year in the role.
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam was announced as a director at Parkrun Global last January, officially assuming his position in March.
But he said in a statement yesterday he had stepped down for personal reasons.
“It has been an honour to serve as a trustee on Parkrun’s global board for the past year,” he said.
“However for personal reasons I now, unfortunately, find myself unable to dedicate as much time and energy as I would have liked to board and trustee responsibilities at Parkrun,” he said.
“I wish Parkrun every success in continuing its important work in improving the health and happiness of even more people around the world through these impactful weekly events”.
Directors on Parkrun’s global board are appointed for a three-year term, which can be renewed up to a maximum of two further three-year terms to nine years in total.
Van-Tam served as deputy chief medical officer during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns before leaving the role in March 2022.
He advised the charity as events were closed during the pandemic and regularly attends his local Parkrun.
Jeremy Townsend, interim chair of Parkrun Global, said: “The board would like to thank Sir Jonathan for his time and contributions since his appointment in March 2023, and we wish him all the very best for the future.”
Van-Tam was appointed alongside David Dinsmore, who edited The Sun between 2013 and 2015.
Dinsmore resigned less than a month after he was appointed, after pressure from the charity’s volunteers.
More than 500 Parkrun volunteers had signed an open letter protesting about Dinsmore’s appointment, arguing that his connections to The Sun and to Rupert Murdoch’s News International “demonstrated values and behaviours contrary to those of the Parkrun community”.