Francesca West is standing down as Chief Executive of whistleblowing charity Protect after 12 years to spend more time with her young family.
Joining the charity as an adviser in 2007, she has held posts as Legal Officer, Director of Policy as well as Deputy Chief Executive, before becoming Chief Executive in 2017.
Protect Chairman, Paul Boyle, said, “It is with great sadness we say goodbye to Francesca who has supported many whistleblowers, and played a key role in Protect’s training and consultancy service to a wide range of organisations from small charities to multi-national companies.
“Francesca has overseen a rebrand and been the brains behind Protect’s unique 360 whistleblowing Benchmark tool amongst many of her successes. On behalf of the Board and staff, I would like to thank her for dedication and passion, she has quite simply been the best ambassador. We wish her well in the future”.
Head of Legal, Elizabeth Gardiner has been appointed Interim Chief Executive whilst the legal charity recruits to fill the vacancy on a permanent basis.
Francesca said, “It has been an enormous privilege working for the charity and for whistleblowers. The people at the charity are talented, passionate and committed and I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity. I hope to remain close to this vital issue that sits at the heart of an open democracy. I wish the charity and my successor the very best.”