Welcome to our new Director of Finance and Business Development

David Spilsbury has joined St Ann’s from his role as Director of Finance and Planning at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

His remit is to lead our finance, fundraising and Trading Company teams, and to identify any business development opportunities for the organisation.

Our Chief Executive Eamonn O’Neal, who joined us last year from his role as Group Managing Editor of Trinity Mirror’s regional publications, said: “St Ann’s is a complex business operating from multiple sites, including three hospice buildings and fourteen shops.  We also support patients in their own communities and run a hospice lottery, so face lots of challenges and opportunities – as any similarly sized organisation does.

“As a charity we need to fundraise two thirds of our income, equating to around £16,000 every day, just to keep providing our services, so we always need to ensure we’re nimble and responsive.

“David is passionate about our cause and is an experienced leader and we’re delighted to welcome him to St Ann’s.  The hospice is approaching its 50^th birthday in a few years and David’s role will be vital in ensuring we remain fit for purpose and are able to continue to provide our services into the next century too.”

David, originally from Newcastle Upon Tyne, has also worked in the public sector as Head of Finance for East Lothian Council, and still has links to Manchester where he attended university to study a Geography degree.

He said:  “When the opportunity at St Ann’s came up I knew it was something I really wanted to be part of.  I’m excited to have joined the team.

“I’m really motivated by a desire to help and support people, and have been involved with a number of charities as a volunteer, Board member and Chair.  St Ann’s is such a worthwhile organisation. I know it has a great reputation for the amazing care it gives to people from across Greater Manchester, and it’s important to me to be able to play even a small part in improving the quality of life of the patients.

“It’s an exciting time for both the health care and charity sectors, with many changes taking place, and I’m looking forward to helping St Ann’s navigate through some of the inevitable opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

“St Ann’s has such a loyal community of local people who carry out fundraising or have been touched by its services, and I’m honoured to be a part of it.”