FareShare South West announces Gene Joyner as new CEO
The region’s largest food charity has announced Gene Joyner as its new permanent CEO.
Gene comes straight from his role as Managing Director at Better Food Ltd where he’s managed a team responsible for up to 130 employees, for more than four years. Prior to joining Better Food, Gene held various leadership roles, as Head of Operations at Parsons Bakery, Managing Director at Cornish Sea Salt, Managing Director at Bart Ingredients and Operations Director at WT Foods.
Gene will officially start his new role at FareShare South West on 10th October 2022.
Andy Street, Chair of Trustees at FareShare South West, led the recruitment. He said:
‘Gene brings with him all the ingredients of a great CEO – he understands the challenges we’re facing and the sector that FareShare South West is part of. He’s an experienced business leader and is embedded in our community. I am confident that FareShare South West will grow and thrive under his leadership.’
Gene takes over from Julian Mines who stepped down in June 2022 after five years as FareShare South West CEO. Lucy Bearn, Director of Operations will continue to act as interim CEO until Gene starts next month.
Gene told us: ‘These are increasingly difficult times for many people, which is why the work of FareShare South West is so important; to be able to directly support communities and families, in and through these challenging times, is a huge responsibility, but also an enormous privilege.
FareShare South West’s plans for the future are exciting, ambitious and very necessary and I’m excited to be joining the team at this time. I have worked for more than 40 years at both ends of the food sector, in manufacturing, and more recently in (ethical) retailing, whilst remaining active in various community and voluntary roles. Consequently, it really feels as though this is a role in which I might be able to bring all the strands of my experience together.’
Gene arrives as FareShare South West embarks on a number of new and exciting developments to increase its reach. Later in 2022, the charity will launch its Employability programme to provide young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) with skills, knowledge and confidence that will help them progress into paid work. It will continue its expansion into Devon and Cornwall, meeting the ever-growing need for food.
During the pandemic, FareShare South West expanded its operations five-fold, delivering food for nearly six million meals in 2020. Since then, the need has remained constant. Last year saw FareShare South West redistribute over 2000 tonnes food to more than 400 charities, schools and community projects. Read more about our impact here
