Ben, the automotive industry’s dedicated charity, has announced a series of senior leadership appointments in support of a bold new strategic direction. The moves are set to underpin Ben’s future as a single-focused health and wellbeing charity serving the needs of automotive industry people, both past and present.
At the heart of this transformation is the formation of a restructured and refocused senior leadership team, assembled to deliver on the charity’s mission with renewed clarity and purpose.
A New Chapter of Financial and Operational Stewardship
Martin Smith joins Ben as Director of Finance, Governance & Impact, bringing over 20 years of experience from the charity sector, predominantly as a Finance Director for benevolent fund organisations. In his new role, Martin will lead the Finance, Technology, and Data & Insights teams while overseeing Charitable Impact on an interim basis. Working closely with Ben’s CEO, Rachel Clift, Martin will play a pivotal part in supporting the operational delivery of Ben’s frontline Support & Specialist Services.
Driving Growth Through Deeper Industry Engagement
Longstanding team member Matt Wigginton now assumes the role of Director of Growth & Development. Since joining the charity in 2015, Matt has led Ben’s partnership and fundraising efforts, drawing on an impressive blend of commercial and not-for-profit experience. In this newly evolved role, he will be responsible for steering the charity’s income generation strategy, focusing on expanding partnerships, enhancing fundraising efforts, and strengthening engagement across the automotive sector.
Enhancing Awareness and Stakeholder Experience
Ellen Plumer, a decade-long contributor to Ben’s success, steps into the newly created role of Head of Awareness & Experience. Having previously led Ben’s marketing, communications, and outreach work, Ellen will now build upon this foundation with added responsibility for raising awareness and enhancing stakeholder experience across all touchpoints. Her appointment reflects the charity’s emphasis on accessibility, engagement, and delivering a meaningful impact at every level.
A Strategic Approach to People and Culture
Also joining the senior leadership team is Sarah D’Addio, who takes on the role of Head of HR. Sarah, who has served as Interim HR Manager since 2023, brings more than 20 years of HR expertise across strategic and operational spheres. Her leadership will support the continued development of a positive, high-performing culture within the organisation, built to thrive in the face of sector-wide challenges.
Honouring Key Departures
The leadership transition also marks the departure of several senior figures who have played instrumental roles in Ben’s journey. Gary Burgham, HR Director, and Zara Ross, former CEO and most recently Transfer Programme Director, have both left the organisation following the successful transition of Ben’s care and village services to suitable alternative operators. In addition, Jonathan Cox, outgoing Finance Director, has stepped down from his post but will remain with the charity for a short period to support the final stages of the transfer process.
CEO Rachel Clift, who assumed leadership of Ben in 2024, expressed her gratitude for the contributions of the outgoing leaders and her optimism for the road ahead.
“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.”
With a renewed leadership team and a sharpened strategic focus, Ben is poised to amplify its charitable impact across the automotive sector. These appointments reflect a forward-thinking approach to leadership, culture, and engagement—one that honours Ben’s proud history while charting a clear path toward a stronger, more focused future.
