Medical Aid for Palestinians has appointed Tim Holmes as its next chief executive. 

Holmes will join in July after 15 years at Oxfam GB, where he has held a variety of roles – most recently, international operations director. 

He previously worked for Tearfund and the Aga Khan Foundation. 

Holmes is the long-term successor to Melanie Ward, who led MAP from January 2023 until she was granted leave of absence in May 2024 to campaign to become the Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy. 

Ward stepped down permanently after winning the seat in last July’s general election. 

Richard Makepeace, chair of MAP, said: “In Gaza and across the region, many of the Palestinian communities MAP serves are under existential threat, and so the organisation’s work has never been more vital. 

“We have every confidence that, with his extensive experience overseeing the delivery of large-scale aid programmes and deep regional understanding, Tim will provide effective leadership for our teams, and ensure MAP continues to speak out proudly in support of Palestinians’ rights to health, dignity and justice.”

Holmes said: “Despite huge challenges, MAP continues, day in, day out, to respond to immediate health needs and work towards the full realisation of Palestinian rights to health and dignity. I am incredibly honoured to join the amazing MAP team at this critical time.”

Steve Cutts, who has been interim chief executive of MAP since September, said that while he was looking forward to returning to his home in New York, he would “always stand ready to support MAP and its new chief executive in any way I can”.