Katherine Chapman to depart as Executive Director of the Living Wage Foundation after ten years of leadership
The Living Wage Foundation has announced that Katherine Chapman will depart as Executive Director after ten years of leading the organisation to take up a new role as Chief Executive Officer at Investors in People.
Katherine joined the Living Wage Foundation in 2016 and has overseen a decade of considerable growth and impact. During her tenure, the Living Wage movement expanded significantly to over 16,000 employers, supporting hundreds of thousands of workers to benefit from the real Living Wage.
Under her leadership, the Living Wage Foundation grew from a small team into a nationally recognised organisation driving change across pay and wider job quality. Alongside the real Living Wage, Katherine oversaw the launch of Living Wage Places, Living Hours, Living Pensions and the Global Living Wage, broadening the movement’s focus and deepening its impact.
Katherine will depart at the end of April. Graham Griffiths, Deputy Director at the Living Wage Foundation, will step in as Interim Director following her departure, supported by Martha Crawford, Assistant Director.
Citizens UK will begin the recruitment process for a new Executive Director shortly and will announce the appointment in due course.
Commenting on her departure, Katherine Chapman said:
“Leading the Living Wage Foundation over the past decade has been an absolute privilege. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together — growing from a small team into a movement that now champions Living Wage Places, Living Hours, Living Pensions and the Global Living Wage.
“I feel incredibly grateful to have worked with such talented and committed colleagues across Citizens UK and the Living Wage Foundation, and with the inspiring employers, campaigners and partners who make this work possible. Thank you for everything you do.
“The movement is thriving, and I’m excited to see where it goes next. As I step into my role at Investors in People, I’m looking forward to continuing to make work better for everyone.”
Matthew Bolton, Chief Executive and Lead Organiser of Citizens UK, which originated the Living Wage campaign, said:
“Katherine has led the Living Wage Foundation through a decade of extraordinary growth and impact, helping hundreds of thousands of people benefit from the real Living Wage, an achievement that will make a difference to families and communities for generations. Under her strategic leadership and through her deep commitment to dignity at work, Katherine has strengthened both the Living Wage Foundation and Citizens UK as a whole. We are hugely grateful for her contribution and excited to see her talents continue to shape the responsible employment field.”
Matt Sparkes, Chair of the Living Wage Foundation Advisory Council, said:
“On behalf of the Advisory Council, I want to thank Katherine for her exceptional leadership over the past ten years. She has steered the Foundation through significant change while staying true to its core mission of ensuring that work pays enough to live on.
“The strength of the movement today is testament to her clarity of vision and commitment to collaboration with employers, campaigners and partners across the country.”
Katherine will take up her new role of Chief Executive Officer at Investors in People in June.