Supporters Direct appoint Robin Osterley as Chief Executive

Date: 29th April 2014

Supporters Direct has appointed Robin Osterley as its Chief Executive, effective from 6th May.

Robin has been Chief Executive of Making Music, the National Federation of Music Societies, an advocacy and support group for grassroots music organisations. He held the post for sixteen years, growing its funding base significantly and running several high-profile lobbying campaigns in areas such as Gift Aid and music licensing.

Although his working life in the Third Sector has largely been in music, he has also held a number of other appointments at a senior level, including as a Director of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO). Prior to joining the Third Sector he was a senior marketing manager in the IT industry.

Chair of SD, Brian Burgess, commented:

“We are delighted to welcome Robin, an experienced chief executive with a strong track record of leading a similar national membership organisation. For this appointment we have looked beyond the world of football and sport in general to find someone with the skills and experience to drive forward Supporters Direct from the strong platform we already have. The opportunities and the challenges are considerable and the organisation will benefit from having a leader of Robin’s calibre.”

Robin commented:

“I am truly delighted to be joining an organisation that has already achieved an enviable reputation in what have often been very challenging circumstances. The time I have already spent talking with the staff team has made abundantly clear their vast commitment, enthusiasm and knowledge, qualities upon which I will rely extensively as we go forward together. Having been the chief executive of a very similar organisation – albeit in a different sector – I know how important it is to have such dedication in place, and I am really looking forward to getting out across the movement and meeting as many people as I possibly can. I am very excited about getting down to work, and repaying the trust placed in me by the Board of Supporters Direct.”

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