Anti-poverty charity Toynbee Hall has appointed its debt advice services managing director Matt Dronfield as interim chief executive.

He takes on the role at the London charity replacing CEO Rebecca Sycamore, who announced she is leaving last month after three years in the role.

A spokesperson for the charity said it will look to recruit a permanent CEO “in due course”.

Dronfield joined Toynbee Hall as head of debt advice services in 2019 and was promoted to managing director of the services three years later.

He had previously led the organisation in an acting role, for three months in 2025 during a period of planned leave for Sycamore.

“I’m looking forward to working closely with Rebecca and colleagues over the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition, and to working with Trustees, staff, partners and communities on the organisation’s next strategy and direction,” said Dronfield.

The charity’s chair Stephen Burns added: “Matt brings a strong combination of operational leadership, financial understanding and deep commitment to Toynbee Hall’s mission.

“The Board was impressed by his ability to provide stability while also looking ahead to the organisation’s future.

“We are also hugely grateful to Rebecca Sycamore for her leadership over the past three years.”

Last year Dronfield was cleared by an independent investigation into complaints made by a staff member about his social media conduct.

Health expansion

Dronfield’s appointment coincides with an expansion of the charity’s debt advice support into helping cancer patients.

It has linked up with Macmillan Cancer Support to run the Macmillan Money and More service to help people with the financial impact of a cancer diagnosis.

This will support patients by phone, online and through access points in healthcare settings It will also adapt its Video advice kiosks for hospitals and bedside access.

The charity already uses the kiosk model to support prisoners with debt advice.

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