David Holdsworth
Biography
David was appointed as Chief Executive of the Charity Commission on 7 February 2024.
Prior to that, David served as Chief Executive Officer of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
David was responsible for over 3,500 staff across England, Scotland and Wales, operating across farms, markets, horticulture production sites and research sites as well as running the UK’s highest bio secure labs at Weybridge which are responsible for global research, surveillance and testing into animal disease.
In his role he also he also had responsibility for:
• Rolling out a new post EU Exit Border Operating Model – including the development of a new system, digital services and recruitment of over 700 new staff
• Implementation of the Windsor Framework to support the restoration of power sharing in Northern Ireland
• Leading the country’s National Disease Command Centre during the world’s largest ever outbreak of Avian Influenza
• Chairing the cross Whitehall COBRA pre-pandemic preparedness group following discovery of Avian Flu in dairy cattle
• Securing over £1bn funding from the Treasury for the redevelopment of the country’s high containment laboratories at Weybridge
Before that, he was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the UK Intellectual Property Office, an executive agency of UK Government responsible for intellectual property rights in the UK.
Immediately prior to his role at the IPO David was Deputy CEO and Registrar of Charities for England and Wales at the Charity Commission.
Before this, David spent over a decade at the Home Office in various roles including senior operational roles in the Immigration Service where he led several large UK wide transformation projects. He also held different policy roles in the Home Office and was Deputy Chief Caseworker.
David has also spent 5 years in the private sector in senior executive positions of Managing Director and Partnership Director at 2 different FTSE 100 companies. David is a fellow of the Institute of Directors and is immediate past Chairman of the Liverpool city region branch. David is also currently a non-remunerated Board Trustee of the Council of Deans of Health – the voice of UK university faculties for nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions.
Chief Executive Officer, Charity Commission
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Charity Commission is responsible for its day-to-day management. This includes leading the commission’s senior management team.
The CEO also has delegated responsibility for making sure the commission:
- carries out its statutory duties and responsibilities and exercises its legal powers appropriately
- develops plans, programmes and policies for the board to approve
- carries out the board’s strategies and plans for the future, including its contribution to legislative reform
- carries out the commission’s services in line with targets and performance indicators agreed by the board
The CEO is accountable for the commission’s use of public funds, and reports on this to the Public Accounts Committee.
Board member
Charity Commission Board members are ultimately responsible for all that the commission does. They set the commission’s values, business direction and strategy and make sure it acts fairly, responsibly, transparently, proportionately and ethically. Board members see that the Commission maintains its integrity and independence. They identify and manage risks and listen and respond to stakeholders.
The Commission’s Board members also:
- monitor how the Commission meets its statutory objectives and uses its legal powers
- consider the Commission’s management team’s performance, governance standards and delivery against plans
- focus on maximising the Commission’s impact and effectiveness
- make sure the Commission uses public funds prudently
Previous roles in government
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Interim Chief Executive
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Deputy CEO and Director of Operational Delivery
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Deputy Chief Executive
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Chief Operating Officer