Cats Protection’s current Head of Budgeting and Reporting Rachel Spencer has been promoted to Director of Finance, replacing Vicky Pollitt.

Rachel trained as a Chartered Accountant in practice and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

She has held senior finance, governance and risk leadership roles across the charity, public and commercial sectors, including Finance Director positions at East Anglian Air Ambulance and St Nicholas Hospice Care, where she also served as Deputy Chief Executive.

Rachel said: “I’m delighted to become Director of Finance here at Cats Protection. It will be a privilege to lead the finance and procurement teams as we build on the solid foundations that Vicky put in place, as well as providing wider financial leadership across the charity to enable us to deliver our aims and further our impact.”

Rachel joined Cats Protection as Head of Budgeting & Reporting in 2024 and has played a key role in strengthening financial planning, reporting and governance across the organisation.

Cats Protection’s Chief Financial & Shared Services Officer Yvonne Smithers said: “This is an excellent outcome for the organisation and a testament to the strength and capability we already have within the charity. I’m delighted that she will be stepping into this key leadership role and I look forward to working with her as she takes the finance and procurement functions forward.”

Rachel starts her new role on 1 April.

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For further information or an interview, please contact Cats Protection Media Office on 01825 741 911, at media.office@cats.org.uk.