Oxford United in the Community is delighted to announce the appointment of Jem Faulkner as its new Chair of Trustees.
Jem will replace Paul Charles, who has stepped down after three years as a Trustee of Oxford United in the Community, including nearly two years as Chair.
Jem is Managing Director at SK Foods, the largest food manufacturer of ethnic snacks and ready meals. SK Foods has trebled in size since Jem took the reins over a decade ago, turning over £70m a year with nearly 700 employers.
He is a lifelong supporter of Oxford United, and has been Chair of OxVox, the OUFC Supporters Trust, for the last three years. He has a strong level of familiarity with the charity’s key area of focus, having spent five years as a school governor, and is also a Trustee for NETA (North East Training Organisation) and Footprints in the Community, a food bank charity.
Kate Longworth, Chief Executive of Oxford United in the Community, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jem to Oxford United in the Community as Paul steps down. Paul has seen the charity through a period of considerable growth and change, and we’re very excited to welcome Jem to support the next phase of its development.
We’ve built a really strong relationship with OxVox during Jem’s period of office, and as soon as we heard that he was intending to step down we were keen to get him on board.”
Greig Box Turnbull, Vice Chair, said: “Paul has been an outstanding Chair, and leaves big shoes to fill. The charity is delivering huge impact in Oxfordshire’s areas of need, and we’re already seeing the fruits of Jem’s understanding as the charity develops robust business structures to support and extend that impact.”
Kath Parker, Treasurer, added that, “Jem is, to my mind, the right and obvious candidate to take the charity into its next phase of development, and particularly to help it continue its journey towards financial sustainability.”
Jem said: “I am thrilled to be taking on this role. I know that football has the power to enable young people to have positive aspirations for their futures and the wellbeing and self-confidence to achieve them.
“I look forward to working with the great team at Oxford United in the Community to champion and improve the experience of children and their families. I share and wholeheartedly support the charity’s vision, of a county in which every child and young person knows that they matter and realises their potential.”