The food redistribution charity FareShare has appointed Kris Gibbon-Walsh, its interim chief executive, to the top job on a permanent basis.

Gibbon-Walsh had held the interim role since October, when former CEO George Wright announced plans to move into an advisory role after just two years in the job.

Before Wright’s appointment, FareShare’s long-serving chief, Lindsay Boswell, stood down in 2022 after 13 years in post. Boswell was named interim CEO of Air Ambulances UK in January this year.

Gibbon-Walsh has worked at FareShare since 2013, when he joined the charity as a volunteer in one of its warehouses, before rising through the ranks and joining the charity full-time. 

He led the development of FareShare’s store-level redistribution model and by 2020 he was the charity’s director of network, community and operations, leading UK-wide operations for FareShare’s 17 network partners. 

In 2023 Gibbon-Walsh was appointed chief operating officer, before taking up the role of interim chief executive in November last year.

Before working at FareShare, he worked in France, India, Croatia and Romania on a range of engineering projects. He is also the co-founder and chair of the Affordable Health Initiative, an international epidemiological society.

Gibbon-Walsh said: “Having started at FareShare as a volunteer at one of our warehouses over a decade ago, I truly understand how the surplus food we redistribute changes lives. 

“The food and logistic sectors have been brilliant partners over the last 30 years and the 8,000 charities we distribute to are at the heart of our mission, using surplus food to bring people together and strengthen communities. I am excited and optimistic that we can do even more together.” 

Dominic Blakemore, chair of FareShare, said: “I’m delighted to be working with Kris, whose deep-seated knowledge of FareShare and its partner network – and incredible personal commitment to the purpose of FareShare – is at the heart of all he does.”