Adoption UK chief executive to step down
Neil Puffett
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
The chief executive of Adoption UK has announced that he will leave the organisation at the end of March.
Hugh Thornbery, who was appointed chief executive of the charity in October 2012, said that after 40 years working in children's social care it was "time for a change".
"I am retiring from full-time permanent employment after what has been a varied and extremely fulfilling career, the majority of which has been in the charitable sector," he said.
"I have strived to make a difference over the last four-plus years at Adoption UK and can reflect on significant changes for adoptive families that Adoption UK has brought about.
"I also know all too well that Adoption UK still has a vital role in supporting adopted children and their families: there is so much need that is still not well enough recognised and consequently poorly met."
Thornbery has previously held roles as director of business development and, prior to that, strategic director of children's services for England south at Action for Children.
Through his position at Adoption UK, Thornbery has a place on the Adoption Leadership Board, which was established in 2014 to drive through government reforms in the sector.
