UNICEF UK appoints new Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Strategic Development Officer, as Dr Philip Goodwin begins as new Chief Executive

The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) is pleased to announce the appointments of Louise Lane as Chief Marketing Officer and Ben Ramalingam as Chief Strategic Development Officer of the charity, as Dr Philip Goodwin begins as Chief Executive today.

In her role as Chief Marketing Officer, Louise is responsible for driving UNICEF UK’s Public Engagement function, leading on Communications, Marketing and Soccer Aid, as well as being the organisation’s Emergencies Response Lead.

As Chief Strategic Development Officer, Ben brings together strategic oversight and accountability for Strategy, Innovation, People and co-leads the charity’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) work.

As a longstanding advocate for children and their rights, Louise has been at the forefront of UNICEF UK’s mission for almost two decades. As Director of Strategy, Louise was instrumental in driving the organisation’s current direction and has extensive expertise in emergency fundraising, marketing and communications. Louise spearheaded the Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2023 and 2024 campaigns to significant success and was a senior producer for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony event in 2014. Louise has travelled and worked extensively with the global organisation, including a deployment to support the 2013 Philippines typhoon humanitarian response, and has been named one of the top 25 fundraisers under 35 by civilsociety.co.uk and Fundraising magazine.

Ben brings considerable executive level experience to UNICEF UK, having served as Director of Strategy & Innovation at British Red Cross and Executive Director of the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub. With over 20 years in the development and humanitarian sector, Ben has worked in many countries around the world for national governments, UN agencies, NGOs, global alliances and donors. His work with UNICEF spans this period and includes being a lead author of the 2015 UNICEF State of the World’s Children on Innovation for Every Child. In 2020 he was named a Humanitarian Change Maker of the 2010s by Start Network, recognised as one of the top ten individuals or organisations transforming international aid work over the decade.

Louise Lane said: “It is an immense privilege to take on this role and to continue to be a champion for children and the organisation I love. I’m determined that children are at the forefront of everything UNICEF UK does – from our emergency response, to how we consult them on our marketing, fundraising and communications. Every decision will put children first. I am looking forward to working closely with the Communications, Marketing and Soccer Aid teams and across the organisation to create the most compelling and relevant experience for UNICEF UK’s audiences across income, influence and impact, to create a better world for every child.”

Ben Ramalingam said: “I’ve long admired UNICEF UK, so it is a true privilege to be joining the team and become a part of the UNICEF family. UNICEF’s mission to support children, both globally and here in the UK, has never been more crucial, ensuring every child not just survives but also thrives and reaches their full potential. I feel incredibly honoured to have the opportunity to shape this new role, which champions strategy, innovation, people and culture – all of which are fundamental to how we work to support children’s lives, empower their voices, collaborate across the organisation. I am excited to build on and advance UNICEF UK’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion strategy and work with an incredible group of colleagues as we embark on an exciting new chapter for the charity”.

Louise Lane started her role as Chief Marketing Officer on 11 March 2024 and Ben Ramalingam started as Chief Strategic Development Officer on 2 September 2024.

The two new appointments come on the day that Philip Goodwin joins UNICEF UK (16 September 2024), taking over from Jon Sparkes OBE who left the charity in June. Philip brings considerable experience at an executive level in the sector and joins UNICEF UK from VSO, the international development organisation which works through volunteers to deliver lasting change, where he has been Chief Executive since 2015.

Philip Goodwin said: “I am honoured to be joining UNICEF UK today, to help deliver its lifesaving work for children and promote and protect their rights across the UK and around the world. Right now, children all over the world are facing a magnitude of challenges including coming under attack in conflict, the impact of humanitarian crises and the climate crisis. The work of UNICEF has never been so vital in supporting children to not just survive but reach their full potential. It is an immense privilege to be joining UNICEF UK at this critical time and I look forward to working alongside a talented group of colleagues, both within the UNICEF UK Executive team and across the organisation as a whole, to help create a better world for every child”.

Ben Ramalingam, Louise Lane and Philip Goodwin join Anna Kettley, Chief Influence & Impact Officer, Mohini Raichura-Brown, Chief Partnerships Officer, and Steven Waugh, Chief Financial Officer to make up the full UNICEF UK Executive Team.