We are pleased to announce that Pete Richardson will be joining The Fragile X Society as Managing Director from May 5th.
Pete is an experienced Chief Executive/Company Secretary with over thirty years of leadership roles within the charity sector, private sector and NHS. He has an MBA from Leeds University Business School which focused upon leading organisations and included in-depth modules on strategy, marketing and growth.
Developing relationships with high value donors, key opinion leaders, national governments and commissioners is increasingly important aspect of leadership and Pete is very comfortable with this aspect of the job. He was the UK Director for one of HRH Princess Anne’s Charities and represented the Voluntary Sector influencing MPs and Ministers at Stormont and Westminster through the ‘All Party Parliamentary Group for the East of England’. He has been media trained and regularly appeared on radio and would like to use these skills to support and promote the interests of The Fragile X Society.
Perhaps more importantly with respect to this role, Pete has a daughter with a very rare genetic condition (referred to as a KCNQ2 potassium channel deletion) and he has experienced firsthand the myriad of challenges that individuals with learning difficulties and their families face. Pete also has two sons: the youngest is still at secondary school and his eldest is a Paediatric Registrar in Kent.
Much of Pete’s life has been spent being a carer, but during times of respite he enjoys boxing and football (he was brought up in Liverpool and attended the Liverpool Football Club academy school).
Pete says, “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Fragile X Society. I really want to be able to help make a huge, positive difference to you, your families and your support networks. I very much look forward to getting to know you all.”
Kirsten Johnson, Chair of The Fragile X Society, says, “I am thrilled to have Pete joining the team in Great Dunmow. He is highly-skilled and enthusiastic, with a wide range of relevant experience. Pete will be a real asset to the Society.”
Becky Hardiman, current CEO of the Society, says, “It has been such a pleasure working for the Society over the past 5 years alongside such a wonderful team and community. As I move on to work closer to my home in Wales, I am pleased to be handing the reigns to Pete who will bring such fantastic skills and experience to the Fragile X Society. I look forward to working alongside Pete until the end of July to ensure a smooth transition. I will remain a keen supporter and advocate for Fragile X, and wish the Fragile X Society charity and community all the very best moving forwards.”