The Bath-based community charity the St John’s Foundation has appointed a new chief executive, just 19 months after appointing its previous permanent leader.
Laura Alexander has taken the top job after three years working at the 850-year-old charity, which supports older people, children and those in crisis.
She succeeds Catharine Brown, who was appointed permanent chief executive of the foundation in February last year, following six months as its interim leader.
Brown said: “I have loved my time at St John’s, working alongside our talented staff team who show care for our residents and those in the wider community that we support every day.
“I will be enjoying a well-earned rest for the remainder of the summer, while continuing in my role as chair of the south west regional grants committee at BBC Children in Need.”
The St John’s Foundation declined to comment on the reasons behind Brown’s departure.
Alexander joined the charity in 2023 to lead the St John’s Hospital Trading Company, which includes the charity’s commercial ventures, the House of St John’s and St Catherine’s.
She became the charity’s director of operations last year.
The St John’s Foundation said Alexander had “transformed the charity’s trading operations, strengthened governance across its almshouse provision and spearheaded a more strategic approach to St John’s extensive property portfolio”.
The charity added that her “ability to turn ideas into action challenge established ways of working and bring a commercial perspective to the charity has helped shape St John’s direction for the future”.
Before joining the St John’s Foundation, Alexander worked at the travel health company Nomad for 14 years in various senior roles across sales and operations.
Alexander said: “St John’s has been part of Bath for more than 850 years and throughout that time it has continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of the community.
“For me, the opportunity now is to build on that incredible heritage while being forward-thinking and ambitious about the role St John’s can play in the future.
“It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly, and I’m incredibly excited about what we can achieve together.”
The charity’s board thanked Brown for her “leadership and the extensive contribution she has made to the charity”, including “returning the charity to its core purpose of providing almshouse accommodation for older people”.
Commenting on Alexander’s appointment, the board said: “She has brought energy, passion and strong leadership to the organisation, but just as importantly, she understands St John’s, our people and the responsibility we have to those we support.
The St John’s Foundation said Alexander’s appointment came as the charity prepared to create new almshouses in the centre of Bath and invest in existing homes to provide safe and affordable accommodation to more older people.
“At such an important point in the charity’s development, Laura brings a clear vision for where St John’s needs to go next while understanding and respecting what makes the organisation so special.”