Severn Wye Energy appoints former Creative Youth Network boss Sandy Hore-Ruthven as CEO
Sandy Hore-Ruthven has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of sustainability charity Severn Wye Energy Agency
Severn Wye, which is based at Highnam near Gloucester, supports householders, communities and other organisations to overcome the sustainability challenges they face.It delivers practical programmes to benefit the general public on behalf of a range of public, private and third sector funders and authorities.
Sandy brings with him executive and non-executive experience across the charity and voluntary sectors, and a track record of partnering with a broad range of local authorities and organisations. His experience in growing and developing third sector and local authority initiatives has included a significant focus on community and sustainability issues. These core points of focus perfectly align with Severn Wye’s vision to create a future where communities are resilient to inequality and climate change doesn’t threaten our future.
For fifteen years Sandy was CEO of the Creative Youth Network, the largest charity provider of youth services in the South West, growing the organisation from supporting 200 children to working with more than 20,000 of the most vulnerable young people each year. He will bring this experience of working with the most disadvantaged communities along with a passion for tackling the environmental challenges we face.
A founder member of the Bristol Mayor’s ‘One City’ board, Sandy initiated their plans to reach Net Zero by 2030 and worked with business, charities, communities and local authorities to tackle a range of other environmental issues. Sandy also has considerable experience in supporting organisations to achieve their Net Zero ambitions, having taken the Creative Youth Network through the process of becoming Net Zero over a five-year period.
Sandy said: “Severn Wye is at the forefront of supporting the most vulnerable communities to tackle the biggest challenges we face at the moment – the rise in energy bills and the climate crisis. It has a real and tangible impact on individuals, communities and the future of our planet showing how we can create a greener and fairer future.
I am excited to be starting as CEO of Severn Wye at this crucial time and work with the dedicated, passionate and expert teams to grow the impact we have and give individuals, communities and our planet a future to look forward to.”
Chair of Trustees Heather Watts, added: “We are thrilled to have appointed someone of Sandy’s calibre and creativity as our new CEO. Sandy’s unique experience of both the charity sector and sustainability issues makes him the ideal candidate to develop Severn Wye across its many areas of work. We are eager to see Sandy’s entrepreneurial approach take Severn Wye from strength to strength.”
Severn Wye’s interim executive team, in place since April, will now work alongside Sandy, to ensure a smooth transition and sense of continuity for staff, the Board of Trustees and the organisation’s key partners.
