Arthritis Care announces departure of chief executive

In a statement issued by the Board of Trustees on 22 September, the chair of Arthritis Care, Rosemary Blair, has announced that chief executive, Neil Betteridge, is moving on to pursue new career options.

‘Neil has brought enormous strengths to Arthritis Care over 11 years, for the past seven as chief executive. He has succeeded in raising the needs of people with arthritis up the political agenda at national and local levels and has built strong relationships with leading health professionals.

‘He has also provided great personal and professional knowledge and expertise to Arthritis Care. Under his leadership, Arthritis Care has become a leading and respected voice of people with arthritis and he leaves a legacy of policy change and service delivery that we will continue to build on. We will be very sad to see him go.

‘The Board join with me in expressing our warmest thanks to Neil and in wishing him every success in the future.

‘The Board will shortly start the search for a new chief executive to lead the organisation at a time of new challenges facing so many of us in the voluntary sector.’

Commenting on his move, Neil Betteridge said:

‘Having grown up with arthritis as a child, being chief executive of Arthritis Care has been a dream come true for me. But I believe that now is the right time for me to be seeking new opportunities at a personal level. It also means Arthritis Care can appoint a successor who will have time to develop and deliver the next long term strategy, as we approach the final year of the current plan.

‘I will miss the many people who make Arthritis Care unique. Our members, volunteers and other supporters are passionate about their work for Arthritis Care and, supported by our dedicated staff around the UK, they make a huge difference to people’s lives on a daily basis.

‘I wish my successor well and if I can offer any support to him or her, I would be happy to do so.’

Arthritis Care contacts

Alba Lewis, director of fundraising and communications AlbaL@arthritiscare.org.uk
Clare Mills, executive assistant  ClareM@arthritiscare.org.uk Tel: 020 7380 6558