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Comic Relief’s Kevin Cahill today announced that he will be stepping down as the charity’s Chief Executive later this year. Kevin has been Chief Executive of Comic Relief since 1997, having first joined the organisation in 1990, and has overseen an era of extraordinary growth, innovation and development.
Among a range of achievements, Kevin has been responsible for the creation of Sport Relief in 2002, he played a key role in the Make Poverty History campaign and helped turned Red Nose Day into the biggest event of its kind in the World. He has established Comic Relief as one of the world’s leading charities and grant making bodies.
Kevin Cahill, Chief Executive of Comic Relief, said:
“It’s a very strange feeling to be stepping down after so many years at Comic Relief, and it will be very sad to leave both the organisation, and so many colleagues, after all the work we have done together. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved and of the amazing work that Comic Relief is doing to help disadvantaged people in both the UK and some of the world’s poorest communities to lift themselves out of poverty for good.”
“That would not have been possible without the enormous efforts of all the staff at Comic Relief and the passionate support of the wider Comic Relief family, including the unbelievable energy and creativity of the artists who have become involved in our work. A time like this wouldn’t be complete without my paying tribute to the amazing projects we’ve been able to fund and the people in them who have turned their lives around. It has been an enormous privilege to have worked with so many talented people and I am incredibly grateful for their enthusiastic support of the charity. I also want to take this opportunity to say thank you for the immense generosity of the Great British public who have consistently got behind our campaigns”.
“As a result, we have achieved some phenomenal things, which I will always be incredibly proud of. Sport Relief and Red Nose Day have become two of the most successful regular fundraising events in the world, helping Comic Relief to raise over a billion pounds to fight for a just world free from poverty as well as providing some of the most iconic moments in television history.”
“I have every confidence that Comic Relief will continue to build on this success as we move into our fourth decade, and will continue to deliver cutting edge campaigns that help shape the agenda in the fight against poverty and injustice.”
Tim Davie, chair of Comic Relief’s board of Trustees said:
“It’s very hard to imagine Comic Relief without Kevin at the helm. He has been instrumental in our success over the past three decades and has helped to establish Comic Relief as one of the most innovative and ground breaking fundraising and grant making organisations in the world.
“I would like to thank Kevin on behalf of all the Trustees for his incredible efforts and hard work. He will leave behind enormous shoes to fill, but also an organisation that is better equipped than ever to respond to an ever-changing world and one that is able to continue to play a key role in the fight against poverty both in the UK and around the world.”
Sir Lenny Henry, co-founder of Comic Relief, said:
"On behalf of everyone at Comic Relief I would like to say a massive thank you to Kevin for his incredible work and commitment. He has been a truly inspirational Chief Executive and none of the amazing things we have achieved over the last three decades would have been possible without Kevin's tireless energy and creativity. He is deeply loved by everyone in the Comic Relief family and will be sadly missed by all those who work with him."
Kevin joined Comic Relief as Director of Education and Information in 1990. In 1992 he became Director of Communications, adding fundraising to his responsibilities. In October the following year he became Deputy Director (Creative), taking creative charge of education, TV, publicity/PR and press and media. In July 1997 he was appointed Chief Executive. Before joining Comic Relief, Kevin was Head of Education at the Royal National Theatre from 1982 to 1991.
Richard Curtis CBE, co-founder of Comic Relief, said:
“Working with Kevin for the past 25 years has been a true privilege and we’ve experienced some great highs together as he has driven the organisation’s continued growth and development, right up to the £1billion pound fundraising total we passed last year.
“And of course Kevin, as well as being the genius behind so many of the best things Red Nose Day has done, is also the creator of Sport Relief, which could not have happened without him. The emergence of a second iconic national event has helped Comic Relief reach an even wider audience and expand its appeal in completely new ways.
“There’s no limit to our thanks to Kevin for his passion for the projects we support, and for all the things he’s done for so long to help those living the toughest lives in the UK and across the world."
Comic Relief will now begin a thorough search for its new Chief Executive and the organisation expects to make an announcement about the appointment later this year. Kevin Cahill will continue to act as Chief Executive until his successor is in place.
