Our leadership team
Our team of executives are responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the organisation. They each have their own specialist areas and are led by the chief executive.
Chief Executive Officer
Jo Rowland
Jo has devoted her career to public service and is passionate about building a better society for all. She is former Director General for the Customer Services Group at the Home Office and before that held key positions in the Home Office, HMRC, Justice and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
She has an impressive track record in managing highly complex issues, such as leading HMRC’s response to covid, spearheading the Government’s initiatives to support business through the pandemic and receiving a CB (Companion of the Order of Bath) in recognition of her services to the economy.
A lifelong animal lover, she has adopted pets from the RSPCA throughout her life and now owns three RSPCA rescue cats - Margaret, Charlie and Flobie. Her family have fond memories of visiting her local RSPCA branch, Stubbington Ark, in Fareham, where her children would drop their pocket money in the collection box and from where they adopted their childhood best friends, two cats called Honey and Bubbles.
RSPCA Executive Leadership Team
Cassie Newman
Executive Director of Animal Welfare Operations
Cassie Newman is the Executive Director of Animal Services, having been promoted from her previous role as Assistant Director, Animal Services.
In previous roles Cassie has led significant transformation programmes within both the charity sector and the probation service. Prior to joining the RSPCA Cassie served as Executive Director of Operations at Social Interest Group, and was also a trustee of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Emily Tierney
Chief Operating Officer
Emily Tierney joined the RSPCA in August 2021 and leads transformation programmes, business planning, performance, internal governance, and the portfolio management office. Previously, she was the Director of Governance and Delivery at the National Citizens' Service (NCS), where she introduced a new governance framework, reformed the Trust's relationship with Government, and managed the portfolio/project office.
Emily brings significant experience in risk management, project management, stakeholder engagement and planning. She has led large cross-functional teams including a multi-year transformational change programme, from inception to implementation. This included obtaining treasury approval for the £1bn business case, the procurement of the required supply chain and implementation of the target operating model. Before NCS, she worked in outsourced government-funded services for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
Jon Eserin
Executive Director of Engagement and Income Generation
Jon is Executive Director of Engagement and Income Generation at the RSPCA, leading the charity’s fundraising, retail, supporter engagement and marketing functions. With more than 20 years’ experience across charity, agency and commercial sectors, he has built a reputation for driving transformational growth, modernising income strategies and building high-performing teams. Jon has led award-winning campaigns and developed long-term strategies that strengthened supporter relationships and diversified income.
Before joining the RSPCA, Jon led teams growing income at both WaterAid and Prostate Cancer UK. Before joining the charity sector, he founded and scaled a successful multi-million-pound business, bringing entrepreneurial energy and commercial insight to his leadership. Passionate about fundraising, culture and animal welfare, Jon is committed to creating meaningful social impact and helping the RSPCA deepen public engagement, grow sustainable income and build a stronger future for animals through greater connection, relevance and impact.
Philip Walsh
Chief Financial Officer
Phil joined the RSPCA in May 2026 as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). A qualified chartered accountant, Phil is deeply passionate about ensuring the best use of every penny of donor money to deliver strategic objectives. He brings a wealth of charity sector expertise from Mind, where he previously served as Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services in a federated structure similar to the RSPCA’s own branch network. In his spare time, Phil serves as a trustee for two grant-making foundations.
A life-long animal lover, Phil shares his family home with Sapphire the cat. He holds a strong passion for wildlife and conservation, which stems from his time studying natural sciences at Durham University.
Thomas Schultz-Jagow
Executive Director of Advocacy and Prevention
Thomas joined the RSPCA in 2025 as Executive Director of Advocacy and Prevention. As an executive leader and campaigner for social and environmental justice, he aims to help change the world for the benefit of people, animals, and the planet. With a wealth of experience gained in global civil society organisations, he has led campaigns, communications, marketing and fundraising teams in Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam, Amnesty International and World Animal Protection.
He is passionate about positioning animal welfare issues at the heart of the political, corporate, influencer, and public agendas, delivering impact for animals in need, changing attitudes and beliefs, strengthening laws, and inspiring everyone to create a better world for every animal.
Thomas is also Vice Chair of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
Toby Baker
Executive Director - RSPCA Assured
Toby joined the RSPCA Assured business as executive director at the start of 2024 after a career working across various FMCG marketing and commercial organisations within the consumer healthcare, confectionery, sweet treats, cereal and dessert categories for GlaxoSmithKline, Wrigley, Burtons Biscuits and Nestle Cereal Partners Worldwide.
He is passionate about positioning animal welfare issues at the heart of the political, corporate, influencer, and public agendas, delivering impact for animals in need, changing attitudes and beliefs, strengthening laws, and inspiring everyone to create a better world for every animal.
Toby joined the RSPCA Assured business because he passionately believes in making a positive difference to the welfare of farmed animals and also to improve peoples broader understanding of where their food comes from.
RSPCA Assured is the RSPCA's not-for-profit farm animal welfare assurance scheme and ethical food label. It was set up in 1994 to help improve the lives of animals farmed for food and give consumers a higher welfare choice.