National charity Beating Bowel Cancer has announced the appointment of Mark Flannagan as its new chief executive.

Flannagan succeeds Hilary Whittaker, the charity’s Chief Executive since 2001.

His previous roles include director of policy and communications at the Royal College of General Practitioners, director of communications and campaigning at Crisis and campaigns director at Diabetes UK where he led the charity’s re-brand and launched the notable ‘missing million’ campaign.

Nicholas Woolf, chair of the Trustees said: “Mark combines a strong communications background with extensive public affairs and campaigning experience in the health sector, in both not-for-profit and private sector organisations.

“His outstanding array of skills, commitment and effectiveness will be an asset to the charity.”

Mark Flannagan added: “I am very pleased to have been appointed the new Chief Executive of Beating Bowel Cancer. Bowel cancer is something I have had personal experience of – having lost both a friend and an Uncle to the disease.

"It is because of my direct experience of their issues, and from learning a great deal more by reading the information Beating Bowel Cancer produces, I know that our objective to promote early diagnosis is critical to save lives. I promise to press the case for this and our other objectives wherever and whenever I can.

“Beating Bowel Cancer is one of those rare things – a small charity that regularly punches above its weight – and that gives us both challenges and opportunities for the future. I am really looking forward to getting out there on behalf of the charity, making the case and pushing for change in order to beat bowel cancer.”

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