# Amanda Bringans to leave BHF as charity restructures

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/09/17/amanda-bringans-to-leave-bhf-as-charity-restructures/
- Published: 2020-09-17T11:02:15+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**British Heart Foundation Fundraising Director Amanda Bringans is among three Executive
Directors to leave the charity as it restructures, it has announced. **

 

The charity announced the restructure in response to an expected 50% fall in its
income this financial year due to the Covid-enforced temporary closure of its shops
and cancellation of many of its fundraising events. It is anticipating having to
cut its budget for new research by around £50 million this year. It also expects
to lose 300 roles but hopes that up to half of this number will be met by current
vacancies.

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As part of the restructure, its marketing and fundraising activities will be unified
and a team will be created, led by a new Executive Director, to build on work already
underway to integrate [BHF](https://www.bhf.org.uk/)‘s fundraising, engagement and
marketing activities.

 

It is moving from eight directorates to six, with three Executive Directors – Amanda
Bringans, Director of Marketing & Engagement Carolan Davidge, and Director of Healthcare
Innovation Jacob West leaving to pursue new opportunities. 

 

Bringans joined as Fundraising Director in 2015 and has overseen a 20% growth in
the charity’s annual fundraised income. She has also led a full review of its fundraising
strategy, set up sector-leading planning, performance and innovation teams, and 
developed its philanthropy and corporate partnership capabilities. She will leave
her role at the end of October.

 

Carolan Davidge joined in 2014, following 10 years at Cancer Research UK. At BHF,
she has re-focused the marketing strategy and launched the charity’s brand proposition,‘
Beat Heartbreak Forever’. She will oversee the merger of the fundraising and marketing
directorates before leaving in March next year to pursue a portfolio career as a
leadership coach and NHS non-executive director.

 

Bringans commented:

 

>  “My five years at the BHF have been amongst my most treasured times in the sector.
> The merger of the fundraising and marketing teams is the natural next step for
> the BHF and I’m fully supportive of the change. The drive, energy, sense of fun
> and determination of the fundraising team is something I will always remember 
> and miss so much, and I feel confident that the BHF will go from strength to strength.”

 

Speaking on the changes, Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British 
Heart Foundation, said: 

 

>  “The coronavirus crisis is the biggest challenge we’ve faced in our 60-year history,
> and we need to take bold steps to protect our life saving work. 
>  “The action 
> we’re taking should give confidence to our colleagues, supporters and beneficiaries
> that we will maximise every aspect of what we do in pursuit of our mission to 
> save and improve lives, and that we will thrive as the nation’s heart charity 
> despite the challenges ahead. “We know this announcement comes at a difficult 
> time for our talented BHF team. Whilst the decisions affecting my Executive Team
> have been taken, the implications for the rest of the organisation and the two
> new Directorates are still to be agreed and initial proposals for how this might
> look will form part of the collective consultation.”

 

She added:

 

>  “The BHF’s continued reputation as one of the UK’s best-loved charities with 
> the needs of patients at its core is testament to the transformational leadership
> that Amanda, Carolan and Jacob have shown. 
>  “Carolan has put life saving research
> at the heart of the BHF brand, while Amanda has navigated a tough financial climate
> to come up with some of the sector’s most innovative fundraising products. Jacob
> has put patient voices at the heart of our decision making and ensured their needs
> don’t go unheard by the Government and NHS. “Their leadership, and the incredible
> teams they’ve built, means we take on the challenges ahead from a position of 
> strength. On behalf of everyone connected to the BHF, and the seven million people
> in the UK living with heart and circulatory diseases, I’d like to thank Amanda,
> Carolan and Jacob for their immense contribution and the legacy they will leave.”

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