I am delighted as ICVA’s Chair to make an announcement on some future changes to our staffing.

As you are aware, Sherry Ralph stepped up be Interim CEO when our previous CEO, Katie Kempen, moved on recently, and we then advertised Katie’s role.

In the past three weeks, the Board have long listed, shortlisted and then interviewed applicants. The amount of interest was phenomenal, and there was a large number of applications.

The process was intensive for the applicants, and included psychometric tests, a presentation, a written exercise and two interviews. I would like to thank ICVA’s Vice Chair Natasha and our ICV and Board Member Lizzie Shenton for helping me in this endeavour.

As a result of this process, we have this week offered the role to Ashley Bertie as our new Chief Executive Officer, Ashley will join ICVA later this year, likely to be in late September.

Ashley has extensive experience in politics and policing governance. He graduated from the University of Nottingham, obtaining a degree in Politics, before starting his career as a researcher for shadow policing minister Jack Dromey MP.

After becoming the West Midlands Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner in 2016, he successfully led the development of the Gangs & Violence Commission, which has pioneered a community-based, public health approach to reducing violence and laid the groundwork for a novel West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit. He also led on reforming public oversight of Stop & Search powers, ensuring that the powers are intelligence-led, proportionate and effective.

Under his leadership, substantial progress was made towards changing national drugs policy, including plans for on-site testing, a financial team targeting the illicit drug economy, the roll out of naloxone treatment for overdoses and proposals for a Heroin Assisted Treatment Service.

Ashley has a MSc in Public Management from the University of Birmingham and is a member of the Association of Corporate Governance Practitioners.

Outside of his professional endeavours, he is an active fundraiser for sickle cell charities, a school governor at two secondary schools, and a Trustee for the West Bromwich African Caribbean Resource Centre. Ashley joins us from 38 Degrees, where he is currently Head of Campaigns.

Welcome Ashley!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Sherry Ralph for her excellent work as our Interim Chief Executive Officer during these transitional times. Sherry will continue in this role until December and help brief Ashley in his new role, returning to her role as Chief Operating Officer after this time.

Equally, for those who haven’t already engaged or met with ICVA’s secondee Stacey Evans, filling the Chief Operating Officer role, welcome and thank you for what you do!

I hope you all keep safe in these difficult times, and I am sure you will welcome Ashley to our team!

Kindest Regards
Martyn Underhill, ICVA Chair

Sherry Ralph, ICVA’s Interim CEO comments:

‘Sincere congratulations to Ashley on his appointment as ICVA’s next Chief Executive Officer, I very much looking forward to working with him to continue our work to lead, support and represent independent custody visiting schemes and know that we will make a great team’.