St John Ambulance Cymru appoints new Chief Executive Officer

St John Ambulance Cymru has announced the appointment of Richard Lee as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a rigorous recruitment process that garnered significant interest.

Richard, who lives near Caerphilly, joins the first aid charity for Wales following a 5-year period as the Chief Operating Officer at St John Ambulance in England. His efforts in this role resulted in him being awarded an MBE for services to healthcare during Covid-19 in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List.

Originally from South London, but having spent his teenage years in North Wales, he is a Paramedic and also brings with him previous experience as Director of Operations at the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. He also saw active service in the Royal Air Force during the Gulf War in 1991 and the UN operations in Bosnia in 1993.

As well as continuing to fulfil a volunteer role with St John Ambulance, he also volunteers for MEDSERVE Wales, a branch of the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS) charity.

Prior for Wales and Chair of Trustees at St John Ambulance Cymru, Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ DL said: “Richard brings with him a wealth of experience and a proven track record that aligns seamlessly with the vision and values of our charity.

“His outstanding performance throughout the interview process, coupled with his deep understanding of our organisation, demonstrates his suitability to lead us through our current challenges and beyond.”

Richard, who is also a Commander of the Order of St John, added: “I’m really excited to join St John Ambulance Cymru as its new Chief Executive. I look forward to meeting the volunteers and staff and to learning more about the organisation and facing our challenges together.

“Despite financial pressures, I believe in the charity’s ambition for the future and our focus on people, patients, and communities.”

Richard will begin his new role at St John Ambulance Cymru in early May.