Addiction charity hires new CEO

Gambling addiction charity Gordon Moody has appointed Monica Shafaq as its next chief executive.

She joins in January 2024 from mental health charity The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, where she was CEO.

Shafaq takes over from interim CEO Matthew Hickey, who will continue in post until the end of the year.

She joins amid a period of expansion for the charity, which opened its first female only residential treatment centre in 2021 and plans to open a West Midlands based site next year.

Applications for treatment with the charity increased from 619 to 885 last year and its capacity has doubled from 120 to 270.

“It’s an honour to lead an organisation that is committed to making a positive impact to the lives of those affected by gambling harm and to work with the remarkable team of passionate individuals,” said Shafaq.

“Together, we will work tirelessly to raise awareness, provide support, and a path to recovery. I am excited to collaborate with existing partners and stakeholders as well as forging new relationships to drive meaningful change.”



Gordon Moody trustee Claire Arnold added: “Monica brings a wealth of experience from her work in the charity sector, most recently from The Kaleidoscope Plus Group and her energy for achieving social change will be a huge asset to Gordon Moody.

“We look forward to the new era of leadership under Monica Shafaq’s guidance and are confident that her expertise will contribute significantly to our mission of addressing gambling harm and its profound impact on individuals and families.”

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