William Shawcross reappointed as Chair of the Charity Commission

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude has reappointed William Shawcross CVO as Chair of the Charity Commission, expanding his role from 2 to 3 days per week. The reappointment will ensure the continuity of the Commission’s 3 year transformation programme designed to ensure that the Commission can address its longstanding weaknesses and serve as an effective and proportionate regulator of the sector. The Commission has recently secured new government funding which will allow it to upgrade its systems, combat Islamist and extremist abuse of charities, and tackle fraud.

Since his appointment Mr Shawcross has led the Charity Commission in recruiting an experienced board and new Chief Executive and developing a transformation programme to make the Commission a more robust and proactive regulator. One year into its transformation, the expanded role for the Chair reflects the government’s support for these reforms, which wererecently praised by the National Audit Office. Its report acknowledged that the Commission had acted on recommendations for improvement, developing a credible business model and an ambitious change programme, improving its use of data, and making more frequent and effective use of its powers.

Mr Shawcross will receive no increase in remuneration for this expanded commitment.