Matthew Thomson is to leave his post as the Chief Executive of the London Community Resource Network (LCRN) tomorrow, 30 March. He will be moving back to his native Cornwall where he will head up the Cornwall Foundation of Promise and its subsidiary Fifteen Cornwall, a social enterprise restaurant inspired by Jamie Oliver.
Thomson has been at the helm of LCRN for more than five years, during which time the organisation initiated the REalliance capacity building programme and developed the London Re-use Network.
In a statement released prior to his departure, Thomson said: “LCRN trustees and staff will continue to lead and enable award-winning partnerships, to deliver real environmental, social and economic value to London's communities and small businesses – working toward a Zero Waste city with communities in control. However, what makes LCRN special is the network, made up of innovative, collaborative individuals and organisations, which will continue to thrive, making London more resilient.”
The statement continued: “Matthew would like to thank all LCRN staff and trustees, as well as our members, partners and associates, without whom LCRN would not exist, nor be able to make the achievements it has done.”
A replacement for Thomson has yet to be appointed, though it has been announced that Thomson will remain on the board of London Reuse as a non-executive member.
Ahead of his departure, Thomson has been speaking to Resource magazine about his time at the organisation and the state of the community recycling sector. The exclusive interview will be available in the next issue of Resource, out in May.
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