Breakthrough Breast Cancer announces new Chief Executive

Chris Askew joined Breakthrough Breast Cancer in 2006 as Director of Fundraising  and since then, has worked with the fundraising management team on delivering a new strategy for sustainable income at Breakthrough, doubling the contribution of income from new individual donors whilst retaining position in the charity’s traditionally strong areas of corporate and events fundraising. 

Prior to joining Breakthrough Chris was Director of Fundraising at Crisis, the homeless charity, for three years, and also previously worked for Action for Children (formerly NCH). 

Making the announcement, Stephanie Monk, chair of Breakthrough Breast Cancer said, “We are looking forward to the next exciting chapter in Breakthrough’s development. Our research centres continue to make new discoveries, our policy and campaigning is going from strength to strength and our vibrant new brand is beginning to help us connect with more people. Fundraising is key to our ability to advance our work further and Chris’s knowledge, leadership and understanding in this field will be invaluable to Breakthrough in a difficult economic environment.”

Askew commented: “I am delighted to be taking up the role of Chief Executive at Breakthrough and I look forward to working with our staff, supporters, scientists, Trustees and campaigners in building on the many successes of recent years and moving the charity closer to our vision of a future free from the fear of breast cancer. As Director of Fundraising at Breakthrough for the last 4 years, I am only too aware of the challenging environment in which we are operating currently, both in raising the funds for our work and in meeting the challenges of constrained resources within the NHS and the wider research environment. But I have no doubts that we can continue to achieve great success and I look forward to leading the organisation and its many supporters in doing so.”

Paying tribute to outgoing Chief Executive, Monk continued, “Everyone involved with Breakthrough will want to pay tribute to Jeremy, an excellent ambassador and enthusiastic promoter of our cause. His strategic stewardship and energetic commitment over the last five and a half years have brought real progress to the charity. We all wish him well in his new role.”