RSPCA appoints new Chief Executive

The charity said it was thrilled to welcome Joanna, who has headed up a number of key roles in the civil service during her career, to lead it into its third century.

Chair of the RSPCA Amanda Bringans, said: “We are pleased to announce that after a highly competitive recruitment process, we are appointing Joanna Rowland, Director General for the Customer Services Group at the Home Office, as the new Chief Executive of the RSPCA. 

“Joanna is a strategic and transformational leader who has devoted her career to public service and she is passionate about building a better society for all. Animals are facing the biggest challenges in our 200-year history, and her leadership will be vital in helping to deliver the societal change we need to see. We are thrilled that she will now be bringing her extensive expertise and experience to improve the lives of animals. 

“We would like to thank our interim Chief Executive Shān Nicholas for her dedication and commitment to the organisation and we look forward to welcoming Joanna on 3 December.”

Joanna takes over from interim CEO Shān, who has been in post since January after former Chief Executive Chris Sherwood left to lead children’s charity NSPCC. The charity recently launched its refreshed strategy, Together for Animal Welfare, to inspire everyone to create a better world for every animal.

With a distinguished career in the civil service, Joanna has 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 passionate 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. 

Joanna said: “As a lifelong animal lover, I am thrilled to be joining this vital organisation which has delivered so much for animals through its long history. I have spent my career as a public servant,  leading large scale organisations each dedicated to the important mission of improving people’s lives and I am looking forward to bringing my expertise to an organisation that transforms the lives of animals.

“The staff and volunteers at the RSPCA do amazing work, day in day out, helping and protecting animals and I’m delighted to be leading them all to ensure we go even further to better the lives of animals and society. It is an extraordinary honour to lead the RSPCA, a charity rooted in compassion and courage for over 200 years. I step into this role with deep respect for its legacy and a fierce commitment to shaping a future where, together, we strive to make sure every animal is treated with kindness.”

To find out more about the RSPCA Strategy visit www.rspca.org.uk/strategy.