Naren Patel to take over as chair of NABS as Simon Daglish steps down from role
Simon Daglish, deputy MD of commercial, ITV plc, is to step down from his role as chair of NABS.
Simon has been in post at the industry charity for ten years, having taken up the role in 2016. He was a trustee beforehand, joining both the NABS board and Stranger than Summer fundraising committee in 2012.
He will finish his tenure as chair in the new year and remain as a trustee for a year.
Simon will be succeeded by Naren Patel, founder of MEFA, previously CEO of Primesight and a NABS trustee and finance committee member since 2013. Naren will take up the reins in January 2024.
It’s been an honour to serve as NABS’ chair for the past decade and to play a part in the charity’s work of helping thousands of people in need each year. I’ll always be a huge supporter of NABS, and look forward to seeing what comes next with Naren in post; he will make a brilliant chair.
Simon Daglish, deputy MD of commercial, ITV plc
During Simon’s time as chair, NABS has evolved considerably. He oversaw the charity during the pandemic – one of its most challenging periods – giving essential counsel and leadership as the NABS team quickly pivoted its services to support people through the crisis. NABS has supported more than 10,000 people so far this year, a 162% increase on pre-pandemic levels and a 58% surge year-on-year.
Other notable projects during Simon’s tenure include All Ears, NABS’ major community consultation this year, and the transformations of NABS’ services to offer 24/7 online guidance to people across the industry.
Naren’s appointment as chair comes as NABS enters an exciting phase of development, during which new services will be created in response to All Ears’ findings and the charity is predicting it will support more people than ever.
Naren’s role at the helm of MEFA will also further strengthen links between the organisation and NABS, who already partner to increase support for those hailing from underrepresented backgrounds.
Simon leaves a fantastic legacy. He’s been an inspiring chair and brilliant fellow board member. I’m looking forward to becoming NABS’ chair in the New Year, and helping the charity to meet the challenges of an industry in need of urgent mental wellness support.
Naren Patel, founder of MEFA
Sue Todd, CEO, NABS added “We’ve been so lucky to have Dags as chair for the past ten years. We’ve benefited from his passion for charity, his good humour and his utter dedication to our work. We give him our heartfelt thanks.
We look forward to working with Naren as chair next year. Naren has been on the NABS board for some time, and he has an innate understanding of our work, as well as a drive to make NABS the best it can be. He’s the perfect choice for the next step in our evolution.”
For more information, contact Louise Scodie.