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New Diocese of Norwich chief executive named

RichardButler3502009: The next Chief Executive of the Diocese of Norwich will be Richard Butler (pictured right) currently chief executive of disability mobility charity Mobilise.
 
The announcement was made today (September 23) by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James and Richard Butler replaces the Rev Canon Richard Bowett, who stepped down earlier this year due to ill-health.
 
Richard Butler has also worked as the Director of Operations (Business and Finance) for the Benjamin Foundation; Director of Operations for H&R Ltd; and has worked for Norfolk County Council and as Head of Children's Centres in County Durham and Wigan. He is a member of various professional bodies including the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Institute of Fundraising and the Institute of Directors.
 
Commenting on his appointment, Richard said: "I'm delighted to have been appointed to this new role. The Diocese is one of the largest businesses in Norfolk and the Church of England faces the same struggles in the downturn of the world economy as other organizations. The need to support the work of the Church has never been greater. To be part of the team that supports the clergy and laity of the Diocese is a great responsibility, but one to which I hope I can bring a number of skills and wide, yet also local, experience."  
 
The Bishop of Norwich, said: "Richard Butler brings to this senior post a wide knowledge of Norfolk and Waveney and its people, a rich experience in the public, commercial and voluntary sectors, and a great deal of enthusiasm for the task. I look forward to working with him."
 
As Chief Executive (known in the Church of England as Diocesan Secretary), Richard will be responsible for ensuring a quality service to parishes and local communities in the Diocese, and for managing its business in an effective and efficient way. 
 
These services are provided from Diocesan House at Easton; the diocesan training centre at Emmaus House in the Cathedral Close; and a residential youth activity centre at Horstead, Norfolk.
 
The Diocesan Secretary is responsible for an annual turnover of over £11m, an investment portfolio currently valued at £12.5m and for maintaining assets (mostly land and property) with a net worth of £125m. The role is strategic and involves care and supervision of colleagues, strong financial management, forward thinking and the management of change as the diocese responds to new challenges and opportunities.
 
Richard Butler was educated in King's Lynn and London before studying at the University of Durham. More recently he gained a Master of Education degree at the University of East Anglia. He has a wide experience in voluntary, statutory and business sectors and has been County Commissioner of Norfolk Scouts (with 8,000 young people and over 1,000 adult volunteers) since 2001. Until recently he was one of the twelve trustees for the UK Scout Association.
 
Within Norfolk he has been a member of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on the appointment and training of Magistrates, and last year he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant.

 

., 23/09/2009

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