Global anti-slavery NGO names maritime charity boss as next CEO

The chief executive of maritime charity Stella Maris is to take the same role at global anti-slavery NGO Arise Foundation from March.

Martin Foley is to take over at the Foundation after leading Stella Maris, which supports the welfare of seafarers and their families, for almost 13 years.

While at Stella Maris he has been involved with tackling issues around slavery and human trafficking.

“Given such alignment with Arise’s mission, Martin’s appointment marks a promising new period of collaboration between our two organisations,” said the Foundation.

Foley takes over from the Foundation’s chief executive and co-founder Luke de Pulford, who is to be executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. He is to remain an advisor to the Arise Foundation, which is registered as a charity in the UK and US.

“It is both an honour and tremendously exciting to be appointed as CEO of Arise,” said Foley.

“I look forward to working with the Arise staff, trustees and Arise’s exceptional global network of frontline groups, to end slavery and human trafficking in some of the worst affected areas in the world.”

Arise Foundation chair Beatrix Brenninkeijer added: “Martin has years of outstanding experience in the anti-slavery sector which, when combined with that of Arise, is set to propel us into our next phase – ever closer to our vision of a world without slavery.”

After almost 13 years as the CEO of Stella Maris UK, Martin Foley will be departing the charity in March to take on a new role at the Arise Foundation.

We sincerely thank Martin for his dedication and hard work for seafarers, fishers and their families.https://t.co/IZ0pjFkLWT
— Stella Maris (@StellaMarisOrg) January 4, 2023

According to Stella Maris the recruitment process to appoint a successor to Foley is now underway and further details are to be announced via its website “shortly”.

“On behalf of the Trustees, I would like to express my thanks to Martin for his service to Stella Maris,” said the maritime charity’s chair Esteban Pacha.

“His wonderful efforts for seafarers, fishers and their families have produced tremendous fruit, both here in the UK and overseas through the global Stella Maris network.”