THE JSPCA hopes to usher in a “new era” under the leadership of interim chief executive Tom Noel.
Mr Noel, who was JT’s chief product officer for over a decade and has served as a trustee at Dementia Jersey, has taken over from Debra D’Orleans, who retired last year after serving as the charity’s leader for five years.
He said he was looking to improve the 155-year-old charity’s stance in the community, and improve community engagement and openness, following what he described as a “challenging” history.
Former chief executive Stephen Coleman was jailed for seven years in 2020 for defrauding the company of £400,000 to pay himself a three-figure salary and fund a lavish lifestyle. Financial reports from the period of his dismissal in 2017 showed the JSPCA was carrying debts of nearly £1 million. The offence remains Jersey’s most serious charity fraud.
Mr Noel said: “Obviously it’s not right for me to comment on that, but what I can say is that every chief executive is responsible for an era of the charity and my predecessor [Ms D’Orleans] has done a fantastic job in ensuring that the JSPCA is on a solid footing financially.”
He added: “If you look at our mission, it is to prevent cruelty, promote knowledge and provide for the aged, sick and lost animals of Jersey. We very much do the latter part of that, but in terms of promoting knowledge and preventing cruelty, that’s an area where I think we can do more, and we can only do that by being open to partner with other charities, other wildlife sanctuaries, other educational providers.”
As a former volunteer at the organisation, Mr Noel said that he was “fascinated” by the opportunity to take on the interim role.
He added: “I left my previous employer and had the opportunity to come in and help a charity that I’ve got very fond memories of and quite a strong allegiance to, so it’s been fantastic for me to be able to step in and give something back.
“And that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”
Mr Noel said he was “not just a caretaker”.
He continued: “I’m doing what I think is right for the charity and pushing forward. I plan to stay at the JSPCA for as long as I am needed.”
He said a “big part” of his role was recruiting the new chief executive, but added that he was keen to remain involved with the charity when it was “time to pass the baton on”.
Describing the future as an “exciting” time for the JSPCA, Mr Noel said they were working on a “property master plan”.
He added: “We have quite a large site, and it needs a bit of money spent on it and, due to my predecessor, we’re in a position where we will be able to do that to improve the lives of the animals that stay with us and the people that dedicate their career to us.
“It’s quite an exciting thing for the new chief executive, and for me while I’m in the role.”
