The Tolkien Society is pleased to announce that it has appointed Shaun Gunner as the first-ever Chief Executive Officer of The Tolkien Society. The Trustees are delighted, now the Society is a charitable incorporated organisation, to make use of its new powers to hire staff.
Shaun has a particular background in communications and has held a number of leadership positions in the public, private and voluntary sectors, including serving for the last 12 years as Chair of the Society. During the recruitment process, Shaun impressed the panel with his financial acumen, his understanding of risk, and his commitment to delivering on all aspects of the charity’s educational objective. The Trustees are confident that Shaun has the skills and expertise to support the Society in delivering on its charitable objective.
As CEO, Shaun will be working on delivering the strategic plans for the Society as set by the Trustees. Activities he will be undertaking include:
- Stable growth in new and existing income streams (including memberships) to enable us to better achieve our charitable objective;
- Ensuring the organisation’s sound governance and finances, including both regulatory and tax compliance;
- Over time, growing our staff and professional resource to support our volunteers;
- A series of exhibitions where we go out to the world to teach them about Tolkien’s life, works and legacy; and
- Finding a permanent home for the Society and its archives where we can bring the world to us to learn about Tolkien.
Speaking about his new role, Shaun said:
I am honoured to take up this new role so the Society can continue to expand and educate even more people about the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. I’ve been a member for 20 years and I’ve seen the Society grow from strength to strength – my job is to ensure that continues. I want to thank the Trustees, members and others for their support, and for putting their trust in me as the Society takes the next big step.
As Shaun was a Trustee of the Society, permission from the Charity Commission was sought for this appointment. We contacted the Charity Commission on 5 May and they granted permission to hire Shaun on 29 May.
Shaun resigned his position as Chair and Trustee at 23.59 on Saturday 31 May, so there is no conflict with his new role as CEO. The Trustees have chosen Daniel Helen as Acting Chair, until the appointment of a new permanent Chair. Later this year we will be inviting applications for the Chair of the Society, as well as additional Trustees on the board.
