The institution, located just off London’s historic Fleet Street, has appointed Paul Jessop to the caretaker role.
Jessop is an interim management specialist with a wide range of experience in the charity and not-for-profit sectors. The trustees said Jessop brought “the skills and experience we need at this point to make the St Bride Foundation successful”.
He will join by the end of the month, and will take over from Helen Lowe and Danielle Nagler, who have jointly handled the running of the organisation on a temporary basis after chief executive Glyn Farrow left at the beginning of the year.
In a statement, the trustees said: “Paul has extensive experience working with charities, often in challenging situations, and providing them with operational leadership and direction. He also has abundant personal energy and drive to take on our vision as a board for St Bride Foundation and to take it forward.
“Paul's focus will be on day-to-day operations, ensuring that the Foundation is running smoothly and effectively, and delivering on its purposes. This will encompass all aspects of the Foundation’s activities.”
Jessop has been appointed for a six-month period. The trustees will decide on a more permanent solution later in the year.
The Foundation has also unveiled a programme of events to run alongside London Craft Week, including Covered, an exhibition of contemporary bookbinding by members of Designer Bookbinders and other invited binders. This runs from 3-13 May (excluding Sunday) with bookbinders attending to talk about their exhibits on 7 May, when there will also be a series of bookbinding demonstrations and a suppliers’ fair with items for sale.
Shepherds Bookbinders will also run two workshops on notebook binding on 7 May.
A special three-day workshop, That’s The Way To Do It!, will take place from 4-6 May giving participants the chance to learn four crafts in three days as they take on the role of an apprentice in a Victorian print workshop. Places are limited and cost £300.
London Craft Week is in its second year. It runs from 3-7 May and involves more than 130 events.
Separately, the annual Wayzgoose sale will take place on 15 May. The event is run by volunteers and involves more than 30 table-top sellers and wares including specialist paper, secondhand printing and binding equipment, type and sundries, books on print and design, and books from private presses.
Advertising production workflow and digital asset management specialist Papermule and type foundry Commercial Type are supporting the Wayzgoose.
For more details about events at St Bride visit www.sbf.org.uk.
