Stonewall chief executive, Ruth Hunt, has announced she will be stepping down from her role in August this year.

Hunt has been with the charity for 14 years and at its helm for five. According to the charity, Hunt is leaving to pursue a 'new opportunity'.

Hunt has helped the charity through a significant growth period, with staff numbers increasing from 75 to 160, and income growing from £5.3m to £8.69m.

Chair of the board of trustees, Jan Gooding said: "Ruth has been a visionary, bold and inspirational leader during her years at Stonewall. We are incredibly grateful for her generous leadership, her unwavering commitment and her unmatched drive. We will all miss her dearly.

"When Ruth took the reins of the organisation in 2014, Stonewall was a very different place. Over the course of her tenure, she has changed the organisation’s culture, expanded our remit and shown an unequivocal commitment to supporting parts of the LGBT communities that have been traditionally excluded.

"Specifically, her commitment to integrate trans communities into Stonewall’s work, following a period of extensive consultation, has been and will continue to be integral to our development as an organisation. This is a journey that is fully supported and championed by the entire board of trustees."

Hunt added: "The past 14 years have been transformative for me, both personally and professionally. I am incredibly proud of how much we have achieved as an organisation and am honoured that I have been the person to lead this change at Stonewall.

"I could not be prouder to have led this amazing organisation for the past five years and look forward to seeing it – and all the amazing people that work for it – go from strength to strength in years to come."

Stonewall's board of trustees will begin recruiting for her replacement imminently.

Share Story: