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Orla Mullan, 27 Sep
A County Derry man has been appointed as the new CEO of agri-support
charity, Rural Support.
[INS: :INS]
Earlier this summer, when current CEO Veronica Morris announced that
she was stepping down, the charity, which provides support for farmers
and their farming families across the North, rolled out a rigorous
recruitment process to find a new CEO to lead Rural Support to the next
stage in its development.
Now at the end of that process, Rural Support’s Trustee Board is
delighted to announce that Kevin Doherty will take on the role of CEO
from October.
Mr Doherty, from Claudy, has over 25 years’ experience at CEO and
Director level including nine years as Chief Executive at Disability
Action NI, where he was instrumental in diversifying the organisation,
building a new strategic plan which he implemented at an organisational
level, and substantially growing the business.
While at Disability Action NI, Kevin was also involved in building and
maintaining strong working relationships both internally and externally
with disability agencies, local government, as well as with global
contacts.
Kevin also has substantial expertise in supporting organisations and
their teams through change which will be very valuable in a time when
both the industry and the third sector are operating in unpredictable
times and change is the inevitable reality.
Gemma Daly, Co-Chair of Rural Support and Chair of the Recruitment
Panel, said: “On behalf of myself, Co-Chair Derek Lough, and my fellow
Trustees, we are very pleased to welcome Kevin to Rural Support at this
pivotal time for the farming community. He brings with him significant
CEO level experience in communications, people management, business
development and income generation, which will not only strengthen the
profile of the organisation but also help us to further develop our
services and embed sustainability, so that Rural Support can continue
to provide help on the ground where it is most needed.”
Speaking of his new appointment Kevin said: “I am very excited to join
Rural Support and further develop the significant work started by the
outgoing Chief Executive, Veronica Morris, and her team. It is an
excellent time to join the charity as it moves into a new strategic
period in support of farmers and farm families across the region and am
looking forward to getting started.”
Derek Lough, Trustee and recently appointed Co-Chair of Rural Support,
added: “I am looking forward to working with Kevin in developing the
charity at a time of significant change in the industry. Rural
Support’s recent survey ‘Supporting NI Farmers in Times of Rapid
Change’ has told us, from the farmers’ perspective, exactly what
pressures and demands are coming down the road.
“Kevin is joining the charity as it emerges from its own period of
positive change under Veronica Morris, and I have no doubt he will
bring it forward even further over the coming years. We all wish
Veronica the very best as she continues her career and thank her for
her service to the agri-industry and the charity over the past four
years.”