Samaritans appoints new Executive Directors to help deliver charity’s new strategy

Samaritans is delighted to announce the appointment of two new Executive Directors, who will focus on building capacity and delivering the new five-year strategy at a crucial time for the charity.

Lis Skeet has been appointed Executive Director of Operations and will join Samaritans in December. With over 25 years combined charity, commercial and statutory experience, Lis is joining the Executive Leadership Team after nearly five years as Services Director at Help for Heroes, while her role as a volunteer at Bath Samaritans will really help her hit the ground running.

While at Help for Heroes, Lis led the transition to community and digitally delivered services and helped develop the charity’s focus on suicide risk and prevention for the Armed Forces Community. Lis is also a Trustee of Designability, a charity that enables disabled people to live with greater independence.

Lis Skeet said “I’m both delighted and honoured to be joining Samaritans as the organisation takes forward its new strategy and commitment to reduce the number of lives lost by suicide. I know from my own experience how unique Samaritans’ service model is and how committed colleagues are to ensuring we continue to be there for the people who need us, now and in the future. I’m really looking forward to getting started in my new role and working together with volunteers and staff to make an even greater impact.”

Meanwhile, Tiger de Souza MBE will join Samaritans in April to take up the new role of Executive Director for People and Culture. Currently, People Engagement Director at National Trust, Tiger is accountable for all aspects of volunteer and staff engagement and leads on inclusion, volunteering and reward and engagement for the charity.

Tiger has had a wide-ranging career in the non-profit sector with much of his career focused on improving volunteering experiences and seeking to create sustainable, impactful, and inclusive volunteering environments.

Tiger de Souza said: “Samaritans is a charity incredibly close to my heart and I feel humbled and honoured to be joining the Samaritans family. I have admired your collective efforts during the recent challenging times and love the ambition in your new five-year strategy.

“I cannot wait to start and support the development of the plans to attract, engage, train, and retain more volunteers and staff so Samaritans can keep up with growing demand for its services and be more visible and accessible to everyone. I am very much looking forward to meeting volunteers and staff, listening, and learning more.”

Welcoming Lis and Tiger to Samaritans, Julie Bentley, CEO, said: “These new appointments represent an exciting step forward on our journey towards building an even stronger Samaritans. Lis and Tiger are fantastic additions to our team, bringing skills and experience that will really help us deliver our ambitious five-year strategy and I am really looking forward to working with them in the months and years ahead. ”