The Fountain Centre is delighted to announce that Nigel Hobson, previously a Senior Executive in the Energy Industry, becomes the new Chair. Nigel has experience leading large high performing teams. He brings strong strategic, operational and commercial capability to the role with a background of balancing risk, resilience and reward. He joins the Fountain Centre at a time when the charity is in a good position, and will be responsible for leading it forward into a challenging future. Nigel joins the charity as they celebrate 25 years since the Fountain Centre opened to support cancer patients and their families in Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire. The Fountain Centre began life in a portacabin in the grounds of the old St Luke's Cancer Hospital site in Guildford. It finally opened its doors in St Luke's Cancer Centre at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in 1998. Today, they are proud to be an independent charity that is totally integrated into the Royal Surrey’s cancer services. Oncology colleagues understand, support and respect what they do. Joint working with the Oncology team fulfils the aim to consider the whole patient from the day they walk in the door. It shows how far cancer care has come that now the main aim is treating the person rather than the cancer. Nigel will guide the development of services to meet patient needs moving forward. Incoming Fountain Centre Chairman Nigel Hobson said: “I am hugely excited to be part of the Fountain Centre as it plays such a worthwhile and critical role in our community. My aim is to provide the necessary support to Anne and her team to enable them to continuously improve the innovative services they provide, building on the strong foundation created under the guidance of my predecessor Martin Read. With the growing demand for its high quality services, I am confident that the dedicated and inspirational front line team at the Centre will continue to perform a critical role across the communities they serve. I very much look forward to helping steer the Fountain Centre through the challenges that many charities face today to ultimately improve the support for cancer patients and their loved ones in their time of need”. Nigel will replace outgoing chair Martin Read, who has spent the last 14 years at the helm of this independent charity. Outgoing Fountain Centre Chairman Martin Read said: “I am delighted to be handing over the post of Chair of the Fountain Centre to Nigel Hobson and to welcome him aboard. Nigel is joining a highly dedicated and committed team respected for the wealth of knowledge and experience in supporting cancer patients on their pathway to overcoming cancer. It has been a great privilege to have been a part of this team and to have witnessed the growing respect and recognition they have gained from our Oncologists and patients alike” Anne Pike, Head of the Fountain Centre, said: “Martin was an excellent chair and a great friend to the Fountain Centre. His dedication and commitment leave a lasting legacy in the area of cancer support services. I am excited to work with Nigel as we look towards the future of the Fountain Centre and reach more people affected by cancer in the local community.” Nigel will officially take over as chair at the beginning of April.