parkrun Global starts recruitment process for new Board Chair

Health charity parkrun Global will shortly start the recruitment process for a new Chair following notification from Gavin Megaw that he intends to step away from the role in September this year.

Since joining the charity in September 2018, Gavin has overseen a period of significant change and evolution at parkrun, including a review and expansion of both the senior leadership team and the board of trustees itself; and all of this through the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw parkrun events suspended for some time, returning in various countries around the world from summer 2020 onwards.

The process to appoint a new permanent Chair will begin shortly, led by the Nominations Committee. The vacancy will be advertised publicly, in accordance with our obligations to the Charity Commission and Sport England’s Code of Governance.

With the recruitment process likely to take several months, Jeremy Townsend (Trustee since July 2016 and Chair of the Finance & Audit and Nominations Committees) will act as Interim Chair from September, and until the new Chair is appointed.

Departing parkrun Global Chair Gavin Megaw: “I informed the Board at our last meeting in May that I intend to step aside as parkrun Global Chair later this year. The timing is right for both me and parkrun. Our new trustees, together with significant new executive hires under Chief Executive Russ Jefferys, provide a brilliant, ambitious, and stable team that is focused on delivering parkrun’s first five-year strategy to make even more people – in even more places across the globe - healthier and happier. A new Chair who can commit for the long term will be a positive next step. After five years in the role, I will chair my last Board meeting in September, but will never stop being an advocate and supporter of this wonderful organisation that changes so many lives every week.”

parkrun Global Chief Executive Officer Russ Jefferys: “We are all hugely grateful for Gavin’s contribution to parkrun during his five years as Chair. The makeup and approach of the Board is unrecognisable from when he first joined. He has worked closely with the Executive team to hold us to account and ensure a more strategic approach for the charity. I am personally hugely appreciative of Gavin’s guidance and support. He should be very proud of what he has achieved and the huge personal commitment he has made during that time to help parkrun become a better organisation.”

For further information contact media@parkrun.com