LionHeart appoints new CEO
LionHeart is delighted to announce the appointment of a new CEO who will be responsible for driving the charity forward as it celebrates its 125th anniversary this year.
Phil Sparke (pictured above, left) joins LionHeart after 12 years as chief executive of the HCPT charity. Prior to that, he spent 26 years as a Royal Navy officer, holding various senior strategic and operational roles.
Announcing his appointment, Peter McCrea FRICS, chair of the LionHeart board, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Phil to the position of LionHeart CEO. Throughout a thorough and highly competitive recruitment process, Phil has shown his enthusiasm for LionHeart and commitment to the vision and values of the organisation.
“Phil will be joining us at a critical time. This year, LionHeart marks its 125th anniversary of supporting surveyors and their families. As we reflect proudly on all that has been achieved for the surveying community over that period, we are keen to maintain momentum and are currently developing our strategy for the next three years.
“As a charity, we place the people we help at the very heart of everything we do and we are confident that Phil will bring his experience and expertise to bear at LionHeart as we look to ensure the continued high quality of service and positive impact we make.”
Over recent years, LionHeart has increased the scope of support and services available to the surveying community around the world, expanding early career support and mental health support, including counselling services, in particular. A focus on closer working relationships with partners including RICS has helped create greater awareness of LionHeart’s work, helping us to reach more people than ever and leading to year-on-year increased demand for our services.
Phil will join LionHeart in mid March, working closely with interim CEO Sarah Keeton to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for staff and service delivery.
Phil said: “The increase in demand from members of the RICS community over the last two years, both from the UK and internationally, indicates just how important the support that LionHeart provides can be. I am thrilled to be picking up the baton as CEO and to be part of the new three year strategy, to ensure that LionHeart continues to offer the same quality of service in the years to come to the professionals it exists to support, along with their families.”
LionHeart vice chair, Philippa Sampson-Bancroft MRICS, said: “I know I speak for the whole Board when I say we are very much looking forward to working with Phil as we look to the future and continuing to ensure that LionHeart offers the best services possible for surveyors throughout their lives and careers.
“We are also appreciative of Sarah Keeton’s efforts to provide strategic and personal leadership through this transitional phase.
"As we look to celebrate our 125th anniversary year, it is exciting to see how far we have come as a charity, as well as the difference we have helped to make to so many people's lives. We look forward to continuing that for many years to come.”
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