We will be bidding a fond farewell to our CEO Francine Bates who has announced that she will be leaving The Lullaby Trust at the end of the year. Francine joined the charity in April 2011 when it was still the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. During her time as CEO, she has overseen a major rebrand and transformation of the charity to ensure that vital safer sleep advice reaches more parents and health professionals than ever before.
Francine Bates, a former government adviser and long-standing charity leader, has decided to reduce her current work commitments to focus on a portfolio career. She remains fully committed to the charity sector and improving outcomes for families and has recently been appointed as a Non-Executive Adviser to the Board of the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London.
Francine Bates said
I have hugely enjoyed my time at The Lullaby Trust and am proud of the fact that the number of deaths has fallen overall by 23% in the last 10 years. I believe that our rebrand, which significantly raised the profile of the charity, and the work done to make sure we reach the most vulnerable parents, has helped to save babies’ lives. The Lullaby Trust is an amazing charity and is well on the way to achieving its goal of halving sudden infant deaths by 2020.
Terry Hebden, Chair of the Board of Trustees said:
“The Board of Trustees is very sad to be saying goodbye to Francine who has done a wonderful job of leading The Lullaby Trust during the past 7 years. We will greatly miss her vast experience and knowledge of the sector. Her contribution in raising the profile of the charity and the life-saving work that we do has been immense. We all wish her well for the future.”
Francine will be leaving the charity at Christmas. The Board of Trustees will be recruiting a new CEO who will be in place next year.
Jenny Ward, currently Director of Services for The Lullaby Trust has been appointed as Acting CEO from January. Jenny has worked for the Lullaby Trust for 12 years, managing our support and information services and training to professionals. She is looking forward to new challenges in 2019:
‘We are all sad to see Francine go, and I am pleased to be able to help keep the charity moving as we look for our new CEO. At a time when SIDS rates have increased, our supporters and staff will not be surprised to hear that we do not intend to sit still in this time. I am looking forward to leading some exciting new developments in early 2019 and supporting the Board of Trustees as they find a new Chief Executive”
