Sam Smethers has been appointed as Chief Executive of the domestic abuse charity, Surviving Economic Abuse.
Smethers has been acting as interim CEO for the charity since its founder Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs OBE stepped down as CEO in May 2024. Smethers will transition into the role of CEO with immediate effect.
Before joining Surviving Economic Abuse, Smethers was the CEO of the Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading feminist campaigning charity, and the charity Grandparents Plus (now known as Kinship).
As well as having over a decade of experience as a charity chief executive, Smethers is also the Chair of the campaigning charity Pregnant Then Screwed and Deputy Chair of BPAS, the UK’s largest abortion provider.
Smethers will lead the charity as it embarks on an ambitious new three-year strategy. The new strategy will be launched in the first half of this year and will build on the charity’s ground-breaking achievements since it was founded in 2017. These achievement to date include securing recognition of economic abuse in law for the first time and the charity’s innovative work with the financial services sector to drive forward support for victim-survivors.
Speaking about Smethers’ appointment, Fiona Cannon OBE, Chair of Trustees of Surviving Economic Abuse, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sam as the new CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse. With 4.1 million UK women experiencing economic abuse in the last year, we needed an outstanding leader to help us achieve our mission to save lives and stop economic abuse forever. Sam brings a wealth of experience in leading charities, strong feminist credentials and a passion for ending economic abuse. We look forward to working alongside her and the team to deliver our ambitious new strategy and achieve much-needed change so every victim-survivor gets the support they need and deserve.”
Commenting on her appointment, Sam Smethers said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be appointed CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse. It has been a real privilege to lead the charity over the last year and I look forward to building on our founder Nicola’s remarkable achievements. As the Prime Minister has acknowledged, economic abuse is a ‘national emergency’ that’s devastating lives. Our mission to support survivors and disrupt abusers is urgent and I am determined to lead our expert team to deliver life-transforming change. I look forward to working with our board, team, partners, and funders, as well as the incredible women who are surviving economic abuse and inform all our work, to save lives and stop economic abuse forever.”
ENDS
For further information or to arrange an interview with a victim-survivor or spokesperson, please contact the Surviving Economic Abuse press office on: [email protected] / 07786 073249
