Cats Protection’s Chief Executive, James Yeates has announced he is leaving Cats Protection after three years to start an exciting new role as CEO of the World Federation for Animals.
James has been at the UK’s leading cat welfare charity since August 2018. During that time, he has boosted and articulated the charity’s ambition for cats, saw the organisation through COVID safely and sustainably, helped develop changes to its governance and set out a new strategy that will revitalise community volunteering, strengthen the charity and help millions more cats.
James said: “I’m incredibly grateful to Cats Protection. These three years have allowed me to meet so many truly wonderful volunteers, employees and supporters and to see so much amazing work for cats. We are united in our desire to see cats happy and healthy and Cats Protection is ever more the charity to achieve that vision. An enormous and heartfelt thank you to everyone for all their effort, passion and support.”
“I am incredibly excited at the prospect of leading the World Federation for Animals, which is the most important coalition for animals in a generation. Humans and animals face the biggest challenges we have ever met. We need to tackle these challenges with selfless empathy, collaborative passion and deep compassion.”
Linda Upson, Cats Protection’s Chair said: “James’s new role, advocating for animal welfare on the international stage is an incredible opportunity for him and very well deserved. It is a loss for Cats Protection but it comes at a point where we have agreed our new 10-year Strategy which will see us build on our work and extend our reach to help millions more cats in the future. We are all very grateful to him for everything that he has achieved for so many cats. His knowledge and experience have made Cats Protection a much more dynamic organisation. We wish him every success in this very important organisation.”
James will start his new role in October. Cats Protection will shortly begin the process of looking for a new Chief Executive.
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and helps over 190,000 cats each year through a national network of around 210 volunteer-run branches and 37 adoption centres. More information can be found at www.cats.org.uk
