NEW YORK, September 9, 2026 — theguardian.org today announced that Richard Addy, a member of its board since 2021, has been appointed interim board chair, succeeding Asha Curran.

Prior to setting up AKAS, Addy worked for two decades as a strategist and government economist advising CEOs, government ministers, and organizational leaders. He served as chief advisor to the BBC’s Deputy Director-General, who was head of BBC News locally, nationally and internationally. Addy also sat on the BBC’s Journalism Board.

Addy steps in as theguardian.org’s interim board chair following the departure of longtime chair and GivingTuesday CEO, Asha Curran. A founding member of theguardian.org board, Curran was instrumental to the evolution of the organization’s governance, work, and mission. She leaves theguardian.org after nearly a decade of board service—including six years as board chair—during which time she helped direct tens of millions of dollars to independent journalism projects.

Nicole Kotzen, executive director of theguardian.org said, “Asha’s stewardship has been foundational to the growth of theguardian.org, and I’m deeply grateful for the perspective and stability she provided during my transition into this role. Looking ahead, I am energized to partner with Richard in his capacity as interim board chair. His deep institutional knowledge, combined with his razor-sharp media expertise, make him the ideal leader to ensure theguardian.org continues to thrive as we move into this next chapter.”

Asha Curran said, “Helping to build and nurture theguardian.org from its inception has been a great privilege. I leave deeply proud of all we have accomplished together, including building the community of dedicated board members who will carry our mission forward. Richard has been a trusted peer and advisor, which is why I’m thrilled that he’s taking the helm. His wisdom and unwavering dedication to independent journalism make him the perfect person to steward this organization into the future.”

Richard Addy said, “I’m grateful to everyone who has contributed to making theguardian.org such a successful organization in the last decade. Asha’s leadership and guidance over this period were critical to solidifying this success. As interim chair, I will work with Nicole and my fellow board members to build on these foundations—strengthening our support for journalists and projects tackling the issues that matter most to the world, and making sure the organization is well positioned for the global turbulence in the years ahead. In addition, we will begin the search for a permanent chair, and my commitment is to hand over the organization in the strongest possible shape.”

With these changes, the current membership of theguardian.org’s board includes: Richard Addy (interim chair), Miguel Castro, Sabrina Ellis, Lauren Fisher, Jeremy Hillman, Susan Jurevics, Tracy McVeigh, Courtney C. Radsch, and Vivian Schiller. 

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Notes for editors

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About theguardian.org

Founded in 2017 by the Scott Trust, theguardian.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports quality independent journalism about some of the most pressing issues of our time. The organization raises funds from individuals and foundations, and directs them towards projects that advance public discourse and citizen participation on issues such as climate change, human rights, global development and inequality. For more information, visit theguardian.org.