Ben announces shake-up of leadership team
10 June 2025 
Automotive industry charity Ben today announced changes to its senior leadership team as part of its new strategic direction.
Martin Smith has been appointed as director of finance, governance & impact. He will lead the finance, technology and data & insights teams and oversee Charitable Impact on an interim basis, working closely with CEO Rachel Clift, to support the operational delivery of Ben’s frontline Support & Specialist Services.
Smith has over 20 years of experience in the charity sector, primarily as a finance director for benevolent fund charities.
Ben also announced that Matt Wigginton, part of Ben’s former executive team, is now director of growth & development.
Since joining Ben in 2015, Wigginton has led the charity’s partnership and fundraising teams, drawing on extensive experience from both commercial and non-profit sectors. In his new role, he will lead strategy to boost income through fundraising and business development.
Additionally, Ellen Plumer has moved into the newly created role of head of awareness & experience. Plumer has been with Ben for a decade, holding various senior management roles, most recently overseeing Ben’s marketing, communications and outreach.
‘Hands-on leadership’
She maintains leadership of these areas but with additional responsibility for significantly raising awareness and enhancing the user experience of Ben for all across the industry.
Meanwhile, Sarah D’Addio has been appointed as head of HR. She has served as interim HR manager since 2023 and now formally joins the senior leadership team. With over two decades of HR experience, spanning both strategic and operational HR, she brings a broad and balanced HR perspective, shaped by hands-on leadership in fast-paced environments.
Gary Burgham, HR director, and Zara Ross (former CEO who moved into the role of transfer programme director) have now left, the charity said. Both played pivotal roles in supporting the organisation’s strategic direction to transfer its care and village services to suitable, alternative operators.
Jonathan Cox, finance director, has also stepped down but will remain with Ben for a period to support the transfer process.
CEO Clift said: “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Gary, Zara, and Jonathan for their outstanding contributions to Ben, especially during a time of immense change and transition.
“Their leadership and dedication have been instrumental in bringing us to this watershed moment in becoming a single-focused health and wellbeing charity dedicated to supporting the people who work, or have worked, in the automotive industry.
“With our new senior leadership team in place, we are now very well-positioned to grow our impact and support even more people in our automotive family.”