Former Newscaster Martyn Lewis takes the helm at NCVO
24th November 2010
Martyn Lewis has been formally appointed as our new chair.
Mr Lewis, who is well-known from his long career in broadcasting at the BBC and ITN, took over at our Annual General Meeting last Wednesday (November 24th).
He succeeds outgoing chair Sir Graham Melmoth, who is standing down after the maximum two terms in post.
Mr Lewis has been involved with the voluntary sector for almost 30 years.
His other current charitable roles include: Chairman of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, YouthNet and Families Of The Fallen; Trustee of the Windsor Leadership Trust, President of United Response, and Deputy Chair of the Lord Mayor of London’s Dragon Awards. He is a Vice-President of all three main hospice charities, and campaigns regularly for the movement.
He is the founder of YouthNet, an award-winning charity that provides websites signposting 16-25 year olds to opportunities and help on a wide range of topics from careers, employment and volunteering through to sex, relationships, alcohol and drugs.
He was awarded the CBE in 1997 for services to young people and the hospice movement.
He moved into the business world in 1999 when he co-founded Teliris, a company that is the global technology leader in providing real-time corporate communications systems known as Telepresence.
Mr Lewis said:
"I am delighted to be on board and look forward to driving forward NCVO's work in the months ahead. I would also like to thank Sir Graham Melmoth for his outstanding contribution and wish him every success for the future."
The AGM will be followed by the 13th Hinton Lecture, delivered each year in memory of Nicholas Hinton, a former Chief Executive of NCVO who died in 1997.
This year, philosopher and cross-bench member of the House of Lords Baroness Onora O’Neill will be considering the question 'Can trust be rebuilt?'
Martyn Lewis's appointment comes at a time of growing influence for NCVO as political parties of all colours seek to engage with the voluntary sector.
