New CEO takes the helm at Age UK Sutton

Staff, volunteers and beneficiaries of Age UK Sutton officially welcomed their new CEO Nicola Upton on Monday 20 March 2017.

Nicola took over from Marion Harper, who has successfully led Age UK Sutton for 17 years, developing it into the borough’s leading older people’s charity.

Nicola comes to Age UK Sutton with a wealth of experience garnered from senior roles at several national and regional charities, as well as having spent time as a consultant to small charities on development and change management.She has led local and UK wide services, with a particular focus on service delivery and linking the voices of service users to campaign strategy.

Nicola says:

'I feel really lucky to join a charity which provides such excellent advice, advocacy and services. The sheer range of work that Age UK Sutton delivers to support everyone to love later life is inspiring. I look forward to building on our current  success, developing our reach to the most vulnerable, creating innovative services to meet local need, and collaborating with partners to amplify the difference we can all make.  I am passionate about listening to service users, using what we learn to support our plans and shape our services'.

Nicola has been working with Marion Harper, outgoing CEO, to ensure a smooth transition. Marion retires at the end of April after 17 years of valued service, having joined the charity in August 1999 when it was still known as Age Concern.

During her tenure, Marion oversaw the introduction of a number of pioneering services and projects including Home from Hospital, help at home service Helping Hands and older people’s involvement group One Voice for Age.

Marion says:

'It has been an honour to lead such a critical charity in Sutton, and I would like to thank all the staff, volunteers and beneficiaries – past and present – who have been part of our journey  from reaching hundreds of people in the ‘noughties’ to tens of thousands now. I am proud of Age UK Sutton and I am confident that Nicola will continue to develop and deliver on our mission'.