British Red Cross appointments two new Trustees

For further information: press@redcross.org.uk /0207 877 7557

The British Red Cross has announced the appointment of two new members of its Board of Trustees, who will take up their roles from 1 January 2023.

Alan House has been a volunteer with the British Red Cross over 13 years, as an emergency response volunteer in Eastleigh, Hampshire. During this time, he has also been a representative voice for volunteers across the UK, serving on a number of strategic and operational committees, developing the volunteering experience within the organisation, and improving the delivery of services.

Prior to volunteering with the British Red Cross Alan served for over 40 years with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, and was awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service. Alan is Chair of the Fire Heritage Network UK and is also a Trustee for the Firefighters Memorial Trust, an organisation dedicated to the remembrance of members of the Fire Service who have died in the line of duty.

Howard Bell has significant commercial and operational experience in helping organisations grow and develop. He was co-founder of PayPal Europe, Chief Product Officer at Content Technologies and was Chief Commercial Officer at JustGiving where he led new product and channel innovation to help thousands of charities raise nearly £500 million per annum.

Howard serves as Chair for FairforYou, a UK ethical lending, non-profit organisation, and OnPurpose, a leadership development organisation which aims to equip leaders to build organisations with purpose. He has also advised and mentored venture CEOs and leadership teams for over 60 companies across the United States and Europe.

Liz Padmore, Chair of Trustees at the British Red Cross, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Alan House and Howard Bell to the Board, each brings specific expertise and skills that will help us in our work to guide the British Red Cross.

“As a longstanding British Red Cross volunteer, Alan brings first-hand knowledge of our emergency response work, in addition to his leadership roles in the Fire Service, and as a representative voice for British Red Cross volunteers across the UK. He has worked tirelessly in developing the volunteering experience within the British Red Cross, and his knowledge and insights will be invaluable as we focus on developing our volunteer strategy.

“Howard will bring significant operational knowledge and commercial acumen from his Executive and Non-Executive roles, ranging from being a co-Founder of PayPal Europe, to Chief Commercial Officer at JustGiving. His skills in strategy development, the strategic use of technology, and the design, launch, and, scale of innovative new business models will be of great help to the Board as we plan for the future.”

ENDS