New Leader to join Co-op Foundation from January 2021
24 November 2020
Long term co-operative advocate, activist and charity leader, Nick Crofts, will join the Co-op Foundation as our new Chief Executive from January 2021.
Nick Crofts will replace outgoing Head of Foundation, Jim Cooke, who has led the Foundation since 2016.
Nick said:
“I am super excited to become CEO of the Co-op Foundation. As the Co-op’s charity, the Foundation has built an extraordinary platform, helping people, changing lives and making things better in communities. It really is thrilling to have the opportunity to build on the Foundation’s success.
“I cannot wait to get started.”
Nick’s career has seen him work in a number of charitable and co-operative positions. He has held the position of Co-op National Member’s Council President for the past five years and is founder and current Executive Director of Aspire Liverpool, a charity that aims to help young people from Liverpool gain entry to Oxford and Cambridge universities. He is also a Liverpool City Councillor and former Co-op Party National Executive Committee member. In April 2017, Nick was named as one of the UK’s ‘Top-Ten Inspirational Leaders’ in the NatWest LGBT Awards.
Nick was Chief of Staff to former MP and Schools Minister, Stephen Twigg, a trustee of the Co-operative Heritage Trust and Merseyside Law Centre and serves as Deputy Chair of the Board of Liverpool-based social landlord Cobalt Housing.
Jamie Ward-Smith, Chair of the Co-op Foundation, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Nick to the Co-op Foundation. As a long-term co-operator, Nick brings a passionate commitment and unique insight to the Foundation’s work and the broader co-operative movement. Nick’s considerable leadership skills, gained in the commercial, political and charitable sectors will enable us to step up and extend our work tackling inequality and investing in community resilience, building on the fantastic legacy left by Jim Cooke.”
Allan Leighton, Chair of the Co-op and long-term Co-op Foundation supporter, said:
“Nick has been a key figure in the Co-op for more than a decade and a passionate advocate for co-operation. I’m delighted to see him join our charity as we work together to create a fairer future for all.”
Read more about Nick on LinkedIn or follow him on Twitter.
See what we’ve achieved at the Foundation since 2017 in our Impact and Learning Review.