Ben makes senior leadership changes to help grow impact and support

Automotive industry charity Ben has made multiple appointments to its senior leadership team as part of its new strategic direction.

Gary Burgham, HR director, and Zara Ross (former chief executive who moved into the role of transfer programme director) have stepped down from the charity.

Ben said both played "pivotal roles in supporting the organisation’s strategic direction to transfer its care and village services to suitable, alternative operators".

Jonathan Cox, finance director, has also stepped down from his role, however, he will remain with Ben for a period to support the final stages of the transfer process. 

Martin Smith has been appointed as director of finance, governance & impact.

Smith will lead the finance, technology and data & insights teams and oversee the Charitable Impact department on an interim basis, working with Rachel Clift, Ben's chief executive, to support the operational delivery of Ben’s frontline support & specialist services.

Smith has over 20 years of experience in the charity sector, primarily as a finance director for benevolent fund charities. 

New heads for growth and development, awareness and experience

Ben has also announced that Matt Wigginton, part of Ben’s former executive team, now holds a new job title as director of growth & development.

Since joining Ben in 2015, Wigginton has led the charity’s partnership and fundraising teams, drawing on experience from both commercial and non-profit sectors.

In his new role, he will lead Ben’s growth strategy for income generation through fundraising and business development activity, focusing on deepening engagement across the industry.

Additionally, Ellen Plumer has moved into the newly created role of head of awareness and experience.

Plumer has been with Ben for a decade, holding various senior management roles, most recently overseeing Ben’s marketing, communications, and outreach activity. Ellen maintains leadership of these areas but with additional responsibility for significantly raising awareness and enhancing the user experience of Ben for all stakeholders across the industry.

Finally, Sarah D’Addio has been appointed as head of HR.

D'Addio has served as interim HR manager since 2023 and now formally joins the senior leadership team.

With over two decades of HR experience, spanning both strategic and operational HR, Ben said she brings "a broad and balanced HR perspective, shaped by hands-on leadership in fast-paced environments".

These changes and appointments form a new senior leadership team supporting Clift, who took up her role in 2024.

Clift (pictured left) said: “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Gary, Zara, and Jonathan for their outstanding contributions to Ben, especially during a time of immense change and transition.

"Their leadership and dedication have been instrumental in bringing us to this watershed moment in becoming a single-focused health and wellbeing charity dedicated to supporting the people who work, or have worked, in the automotive industry.  

"I’m delighted to welcome Martin, Ellen, Matt, and Sarah to their new roles.

"They each bring unique strengths, deep knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to Ben’s mission.

"With our new senior leadership team in place, we are now very well-positioned to grow our impact and support even more people in our automotive family. I look forward to what we can achieve together in the next chapter of Ben’s evolution.”

This month The Motor Ombudsman partnered with Ben to launch Steer - a new printed and digital mental health and wellbeing guide designed specifically for the automotive sector.