Laying the Foundations for a Charitable Year

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The chief priority for David Hersey this week is to put the final touches to a business plan.

Never one to let the grass grow under his feet, the new chief executive of the Birmingham Community Foundation is devising a strategy to tackle the undoubted challenges that the next 12 months will bring.

"We need to hit the ground running this year," he said from the foundation head office of a converted Victorian Baths, part of the acclaimed Nechells regeneration project.

"These are tough economic times for business and the charity and voluntary sector alike and I am sure 2010 will not get any easier.

"We need to ensure the correct priorities are in place to enable us to do our job serving our donors, supporters and disadvantaged communities in the very best, most efficient and effective way we can.

"The local community groups we support need help now more than ever." Mr Hersey is no stranger to helping businesses develop and grow and is especially in tune with those with a Midlands bias.

This quietly spoken but very determined character retired last year from a top role at RBS after 35 years of service, the last six of which as the regional director for corporate banking for the West Midlands.

During his long career Mr Hersey held a number of senior management positions and worked throughout the UK. His …