CRT announce changes to executive team – National Association of Boat Owners

CRT have announced a streamlined executive team structure that is coming into effect from 1 July 2026,

The new structure combines existing leadership roles with newly created and expanded positions. It will improve efficiency across our extensive maintenance responsibilities whilst placing a greater emphasis on customers, communities and partnerships to help secure the long-term future of the UK’s canal network.The most significant change brings together our operations and engineering functions into one unified division. This is being led by Malcolm Horne who has been with us for four years and was appointed chief operations officer following a competitive recruitment process.Susie Mather will take up the role of chief policy & communications officer also after a competitive process and having led our communications and external relations over the past three years.

A new customer & place division has been created to focus on delivering outstanding boating and customer experience, and deepening community connections. Caroline King will lead the division and will join on 1 October 2026 from Ageas UK, bringing more than 30 years’ leadership experience. Henriette Breukelaar, who has led our West Midlands region, will step in on an interim basis from 1 July.

Simon Major will join us on 5 October 2026 as chief assurance officer, strengthening our approach to governance, risk and regulatory compliance. He joins from The King’s Trust and brings extensive experience across the charity sector. Beth Hawthorn, our head of legal, will act as interim from 1 July.

Laura Davies will join the charity on 16 September 2026 from Transport for London as chief of staff. She brings deep expertise in strategy, governance and transformation, and will support the chief executive and executive team in driving delivery.

The other executive roles, which remain unchanged, are the chief financial officer, chief investment officer and chief people officer. An interim fundraising director is currently reviewing our ambition for charitable income to contribute to the significant cost of keeping the canal network open and operational.

The changes mark the departure of three long-serving senior leaders. Julie Sharman, chief operating officer, retires from the executive team after 30 years of service to the waterways, Heather Clarke, strategy & impact director, retires with nearly 29 years of service, and Tom Deards, legal & governance director, will leave us at the end of July after 19 years of service.

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