Stewardship announces new CEO

Christian charity, Stewardship, Announces Janie Oliver as its new CEO. Janie, currently CFO at Stewardship, will take over from outgoing CEO Stewart McCulloch when he moves to debt help charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) at the start of 2024.

Janie joined Stewardship as CFO in February 2021 having previously served as Executive Director for JustMoney Movement (formerly the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility). Janie also spent four years as Director of Finance and Operations for Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, pioneering their total-impact investment approach of their £60m endowment. This included a period as Acting CEO. Prior to moving into the charity sector, Janie held various senior roles with Barclays. Her voluntary experience includes three trusteeships.

Janie takes the Stewardship helm at a moment of strong growth and pivotal change. Under Stewart’s leadership over the last five years, Christian giving with Stewardship has grown by 40%. In 2022, donations increased year on year by 10% to just under £110m and grants to churches and charities by 14% to £82.6m.

A significant achievement for Janie as CFO has been the introduction of a new ‘Bull’s Eye’ investment strategy which prioritises Tier 1 investments in organisations focused on Christian ministry and Tier 2 ones in areas that support under-served communities and are aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Since this strategy was launched in November 2021, investments in these two areas have doubled to over £40m.

Janie has spent the last year leading on the development of a new three-year strategy for Stewardship, designed to build on Stewardship’s core strengths for future growth and innovation in its donor, church and charity services. Delivering that strategy will now be her first priority as the new CEO.

The Stewardship Trustees were keen to make an internal appointment to ensure continuity in the strategy process. While the strength of the Leadership Team meant they had a very high-quality selection of candidates, it was Janie’s track record as a dynamic leader and a pioneer in social impact investment, together with her solid corporate experience across Finance and Operations, that secured her appointment. Janie is also Stewardship’s first female CEO.

“Stewardship has been through a period of significant transformation and growth under Stewart’s leadership. I look forward to ushering Stewardship into a new phase of growth and innovation to release more generosity to more church and charitable causes and help them steward their resources for maximum impact.” Janie Oliver, CEO from 1 January 2024, Stewardship

“I am delighted to be passing the baton to Janie who has already delivered so much for Stewardship strategically, spiritually, and culturally. Milestone achievements include doubling the amount we invest in high social impact areas, in line with the new ‘Bull’s Eye’ investment strategy Janie introduced, and a 60% growth in our church lending since 2021. Janie’s engaging leadership style and broad experience, combined with her agile, visionary approach put her in an excellent position to deliver our new strategy and I look forward to seeing Stewardship flourish under her leadership as I move to Christians Against Poverty.” Stewart McCulloch, CEO until 31 December 2023, Stewardship

“Stewardship’s Trustees favoured an internal appointment to ensure a smooth transition for the delivery of our new strategy. Janie’s extremely valuable and relevant experience, including her confident leadership of the new strategy process this year, mean she is well equipped to lead Stewardship both operationally and spiritually. Together with the rest of Stewardship’s Trustees, I very much look forward to supporting her as she steps up to lead on the delivery of our new strategy.” Chris Gillies, Chair of Trustees, Stewardship