WRAP names new chief executive

Ms Lamb will take up her post on 15 March, taking over from the previous chief executive Marcus Gover.

The NGO explained that Ms Lamb is an experienced chief executive including having built the global movement Fairtrade which seeks better conditions and fair prices for smallholder farmers and workers across the developing world.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Lamb said: “I am thrilled to be joining the ace-team at WRAP given their impressive track record of finding solutions, bringing partners together and dialling up the impact.

“I look forward to scaling WRAP’s respected programmes tackling the issues of waste, carbon and water while promoting the circular economy. We can be at the forefront of making the good life, everyone’s life. It’s an enormous opportunity to unite the public, businesses and governments behind tackling climate change head-on.”

Background

WRAP outlined that Ms Lamb has always worked for social and environmental issues. Ms Lamb joined Fairtrade International in 1997 with the aim of improving life for banana growers in central America, becoming executive director of the UK Fairtrade Foundation in 2001. She took up the post of chief executive at Fairtrade International in 2012.

Since 2019, she has been CEO of Ashden, which promotes just climate solutions including sustainable energy in the UK and globally. Prior to that she led a peacebuilding organisation International Alert.

Additionally, she has won a number of awards including a CBE, Orange Businesswoman of the Year and Cosmopolitan EcoQueen. She was also the first female Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

Recently appointed chair Sebastian Munden commented: “Appointing a CEO is one of the most important things a Chair and Trustee board do, and we are incredibly excited that Harriet is joining us. She brings a wealth of experience at CEO level and has demonstrated across her career so far that she can bring people together to scale positive change. I have every confidence that Harriet’s appointment will accelerate our impact.”

Interim CEO Richard Swannell said: “I very much welcome this appointment and look forward to working with Harriet. Her experience of working in the food system at Fairtrade, and working in both the UK and internationally on climate issues will be invaluable to WRAP going forward.”