End of life charity Marie Curie strengthens its leadership team

End of life charity Marie Curie has announced today the appointment of a new Chief Technology Officer and Chief Financial Officer to strengthen its executive leadership team.

Tiffany Willcox joined Marie Curie on 29 March as Chief Technology Officer, a critical new role for the charity as it accelerates its technology transformation in all aspects of its work and services. Tiffany will provide executive leadership to the IT and Data teams.

Tiffany previously spent 8 years at Specsavers, where she rose through the management structure to become Head of Technology – Retail IT. She also held positions as Head of IT - Audiology, Domiciliary, Corporate Eyecare and Contact Centre, and took the lead on multiple projects and driving the technology capability of the organisation. She has over 20 years of Technology experience, through Africa, Europe and the USA.

Tiffany is a keen sailor and has won national sailing competitions in South Africa and took part in an Olympic Sailing campaign 2005 – 2008.

Commenting on her appointment, Tiffany said:

"I'm really pleased to be leading the technology advances at Marie Curie, and enabling the charity to support more integrated ways of working and improve the experience of people at the end of life and those affected by dying, death and bereavement."

Amanda Oakley Smith joins the charity as Chief Financial Officer on 4 May. Amanda will provide executive leadership to the finance, procurement, internal audit, legal and governance, compliance, and the estates functions.

Amanda is currently the Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director Business Services at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). She is also a special advisor member of the Planning and Resources Committee at the Royal Society.

Amanda has extensive experience in leading projects to generate new incremental and sustainable income streams. Previously Amanda was a Director at Deloitte Corporate Finance, working to help businesses and charities improve their strategy and performance and deliver operational and financial transformation. During this time, Amanda worked in a voluntary capacity supporting two charities, one formally as Honorary Treasurer of a disability charity and one informally as an advisor to the CEO of a charity focused on transforming children's futures.

Commenting on her appointment, Amanda said:
"I am delighted to be joining a brilliant, important and caring organisation like Marie Curie. I am inspired by the charity's vision of everyone in the UK getting the best possible end of life experience and support for their loved ones, it is so important and relevant to all of us. I feel privileged to join the charity and am really looking forward to working with the them."

Marie Curie's Chief Executive, Matthew Reed, said:

"I'm delighted to welcome Tiff and Amanda at such a significant time for the charity. As the leading end of life charity, we want to make sure we are set up in the best way to transform as an organisation and to ensure our future financial sustainability. This has become even more critical over the last year as a result of the pandemic.

The pandemic has highlighted massive inequalities and shortages at end of life, which has made what we do as a charity even more important. Having the right strategic leadership in place is essential as we plan and build for the future to ensure that we can continue to be there for people at end of life and make a difference to everyone affected by dying, death and bereavement."

The charity followed a robust recruitment process for both roles, enlisting the support of an executive search agency which specialises in finding the most diverse talent available, with a particular emphasis on encouraging applications from candidates in under-represented groups. 

The new executive leadership team includes the Chief Executive; Chief Nurse and Executive Director of Quality and Caring Services; Executive Director of Fundraising and Engagement; Chief People and Organisational Development Officer; Chief Financial Officer and Chief Technology Officer.

The charity's former Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Corporate Services, Jackie Freeman retired at the end of 2020. Margaret Ashworth is acting as interim Chief Financial Officer until Amanda joins in May. Margaret has extensive experience as an interim director across a range of sectors including government, finance and charity. She also has substantial NHS experience having been the CFO of a CCG and NHS Trusts.

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