WWF-UK announces new Chief Executive

WWF-UK has announced today (27 September 2016) the appointment of Tanya Steele as its new Chief Executive. Tanya assumes her new role on 1 January 2017. She will take over leadership of WWF (UK) at a key moment in our history when public policy measures on conservation are under threat whilst the pressures on our environment continue to increase. Tanya will be a leading figure, both in the UK and in the global WWF Network, working for deeper and quicker measures to protect the natural world.



Tanya joins from Save the Children, where she has been its Interim UK Chief Executive since February of this year whilst working extensively across its global network, to lead the delivery of the organisation's ambitious strategy to reach every last child. Prior to this she was Executive Director for Marketing, Fundraising and Communications, where she has led award winning campaigns, partnerships, new commercial ventures and significantly grown levels of income and support for children. Before joining Save the Children, Tanya spent over a decade working in product development, marketing and communications in the technology sector, holding senior roles at Siemens and BT.



Sir Andrew Cahn, Chair of trustees at WWF-UK, said: I am delighted that we have appointed Tanya Steele to be the next CEO of WWF-UK. She has the enthusiasm, the energy and the commitment, as well as the very strong leadership and managerial skills, which we need for the next stage in our journey. Finding ways for people and the planet to live together in harmony is the biggest challenge of all. I welcome Tanya to the WWF family both in the UK and in our global network"



Incoming WWF-UK CEO, Tanya Steele commented: "It's a great privilege to join WWF-UK as its Chief Executive and I look forward to working alongside its hugely expert and committed staff and its incredibly loyal supporters. WWF has an urgent and truly global mission for a planet where people and nature can thrive in harmony. Now more than ever, with huge pressures on habitats and more species facing extinction, WWF needs to play an integral role in enabling long term change towards sustainable living; and the need for nature - on which we all depend - must be front and centre of our efforts."



She replaces outgoing Chief Executive, David Nussbaum, who leaves on 30 September to become Chief Executive at the peace and human rights organisation, The Elders. Glyn Davies, Executive Director of Global Programmes at WWF-UK will act as interim CEO until Tanya joins. 



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For more information and interview opportunities, please contact:

Alex Stafford

WWF-UK

email: astafford@wwf.org.uk

Tel: 01483 412332



Notes to editors



Biography of Tanya Steele



Tanya Steele is currently the Interim Chief Executive at Save the Children, and was previously Executive Director of Marketing, Fundraising & Communications. She established fundraising as an organisation-wide imperative, integrating the Marketing, Fundraising and Communications functions to drive supporter growth and income. Tanya also introduced a culture of innovation in fundraising including the launch of new products, partnerships and award winning campaigns. 



Before joining Save the Children, Tanya spent over a decade working in product development, marketing and communications in the technology sector, holding senior roles at Siemens and BT. Tanya is currently a trustee of the human rights charity, Reprieve.



Photos are available here. 



About WWF



WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries.  WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.  WWF-UK has over half a million supporters and an annual income exceeding £60m in the financial year to June 2015