# St John Ambulance chooses very commercial marketer

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/03/09/st-john-ambulance-chooses-very-commercial-marketer/
- Published: 2009-03-09T13:02:17+00:00
- Author: Guest Blogger

**Over the last month, there has been a steady stream of ‘heat’ created in [Third Sector’s](http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/Resources/Management/Login/875684)
letters pages (the magazine and website for nfp sector news) by an article originally
written by Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change.**

Although I didn’t personally find it insulting, the tone did suggest that people
who work in the commercial sector shouldn’t ever be given roles in the not for profit
sector unless they have relevant experience.  The skills required and the cultural
differences are apparently too great a barrier to entry.  Although I’m not sure 
how one is supposed to gain experience if you’re not allowed to get a job as there
is only so much you can do as a volunteer.

Deja-vu is setting in right about now.

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I have seen, heard and written about this issue before and am not going to reiterate
the points here.  But, I was interested in reading of [Scott Jacobson’s appointment](http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=64579&d=254&h=5&f=3&nl=BN&ln=09030901)
as St John Ambulance’s first ever Director of Marketing, Communications and Fundraising.

Mr Jacobson has been poached directly from Orange and has no nfp sector experience
but clearly does have bags of marketing and communications skills to share.  I hope
he succeeds in helping the charity to modernise and raise its profile as well as
to dispel a myth or two about who can and can’t work where.

 

 * **[COMPAID Trust appoints new Chief Executive](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/03/16/compaid-trust-appoints-new-chief-executive/)**(
   16 March 2009)
 * **[Giles Pegram to leave NSPCC next year](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/03/19/giles-pegram-leave-nspcc-next-year/)**(
   19 March 2009)
 * **[The Brooke’s CEO to leave after eight years](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/03/22/brooke039s-ceo-leave-after-eight-years/)**(
   22 March 2009)