After 18 years with Mayhew, CEO Caroline Yates has stepped down as CEO to take up an internationally focused role within the animal welfare charity. Effective today, Howard Bridges has joined Mayhew as Interim CEO, bringing a vast amount of experience from the various senior and CEO roles he has held at animal welfare and veterinary organisations.
In her new role, Caroline becomes Head of International Projects & Relations, reporting into the new CEO. She will create, drive and deliver the strategic vision for Mayhew’s international endeavours, which this year celebrate 20 years since the first pilot project in Russia. This early project actually led Caroline – living in Moscow at the time – to first hear about Mayhew, so it is especially fitting that today marks her journey coming full circle.
Working with the existing teams in Afghanistan and Georgia in this newly-created role, Caroline will be tasked with delivering even greater impact in some of the world’s most challenging environments for animals.
Recent successes for Mayhew’s international teams have included the creation of the Animal Birth Control Centre in Kabul, and work with Tbilisi City Council on the inception of a programme to address the issues surrounding free-roaming dog populations and the provision of veterinary training.
Commenting on her new role, Caroline said: “After almost 18 years with Mayhew, 14 of them as CEO, I’ve decided to step down from my current role to lead on an important area of Mayhew’s work that I am particularly passionate about.
“I actually first became aware of Mayhew in 2003 while living in Moscow, where I was fascinated by the street dog population there and wanted to do something to help. I met Mayhew trained vets in Russia and jumped at the chance to join the organisation when I returned to the UK.
“I’m now incredibly excited to have the opportunity to create and implement the vision to elevate our international efforts and build upon the exceptional work that our teams have been doing for many years.”
Howard Bridges has been appointed interim CEO as the search for Yates’ successor commences. After entering the charity sector from the corporate world in 2007, Howard Bridges became interim CEO and subsequently Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations & Estates at Battersea.
Howard has also headed up projects to create new strategies for Jerry Green Dog Rescue and Blue Cross, as part of his extensive contracting support for animal charities. In his most recent permanent role, Howard spent five successful years as CEO of Edinburgh Dogs and Cats Home, where he increased fundraising, implemented the charity’s first five-year-strategy, and helped thousands of animals to find their forever homes.
Effective 31 March, as interim CEO, Howard will draw upon his many years’ experience to lead Mayhew and ensure community engagement remain at the heart of the organisation.
Howard said: “As interim CEO, I feel privileged to be leading Mayhew into an exciting period of opportunity post-pandemic. It’s an honour to be involved with one of London’s most respected animal welfare charities, known for serving dogs, cats and communities for 135 years. With the ongoing dedication and hard work of our team, volunteers and supporters, I look forward to us continuing the great work together.”
Julianne Hicks, Chair of Mayhew added: “We are delighted to welcome Howard whilst being able to retain Caroline’s enthusiasm and expertise within Mayhew, as we continue our unwavering commitment to raising awareness of the importance of animal welfare and the human-animal bond.
“We are excited to have Caroline leverage the success of the innovative international programmes involving companion animals that we have delivered previously, in India and Russia, to elevate our impact in Afghanistan and Georgia. Community engagement remains at the heart of all that we do.”
For further details on Mayhew’s work in the UK and internationally see www.themayhew.org
