CEO to leave WRAP at the end of the year

WRAP’s Chief Executive Dr Marcus Gover announced this morning that he will leave the organisation at the end of the year.

In a statement, WRAP said that he steered the charity through the pandemic whilst ‘expanding its reach and successfully positioning its work as crucial to the fight against climate change’.

Previously Organisations Director at the charity, Gover became CEO in 2016, taking over from Liz Goodwin. Before joining WRAP in 2007, he worked in the environmental sector for 15 years.

Commenting on this news, Marcus said: “WRAP is an organisation with huge ambition to both grow its impact in the UK and internationally. Our core purpose is to tackle climate change and protect our planet by changing the way things are produced, consumed and disposed of. That challenge has never been greater.

“We are already in the process of recruiting a new Chair for WRAP and this is the right time for me to hand over to a new CEO who will work with the new Chair to take WRAP on its’ forward journey as we significantly increase our impact across the globe.

“We will start the process of recruiting a successor shortly and I will continue to be involved in WRAP supporting the transition to new leadership. I am keen to continue with my passion to tackle climate change and will be looking for opportunities that allow me to continue to contribute to the Net Zero agenda.

“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved at WRAP during my time here and feel privileged to have worked with some incredibly talented and passionate people. I leave knowing that I have given WRAP the confidence to go global and develop the vision, ambition and capability to be a key player in the journey to Net Zero.

“I wish WRAP all the best in the future.”

Julie Hill, chair of WRAP, will stand down in October at the end of her second term. Discussing Marcus Gover’s decision to leave, she added: “On behalf of the Board of Trustees I would like to thank Marcus for all his hard work and the success he has achieved WRAP over the last few years and wish him the very best in the future.

“Tackling climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetimes and WRAP has a really important role to play through its analysis, insights, convening power and action on the ground.”

“Under Marcus’ leadership, WRAP has made significant progress over the last few years, including the growth of our international work, the expansion of the Plastics Pact and Courtauld Commitment and the launch of Textiles 2030, WRAP has and will continue to make a real difference to the world we live in.

“This is a pivotal moment in time for WRAP as it expands its ambitions and Marcus and I are working together to find the right people to take WRAP on the next stage of its journey.”