After six years leading Down's Syndrome Scotland as its Chief Executive, Eddie McConnell plans to retire at the end of this year
Down’s Syndrome Scotland (DSS) has today announced that its Chief Executive, Eddie McConnell, has decided to retire from his role at the end of the year. Eddie joined the charity as its Chief Executive in August 2019 and he led the charity throughout the pandemic ensuring that people with Down’s syndrome and their carers were appropriately prioritised throughout the crisis. He has delivered a transformation in the way the charity operates throughout Scotland. He has significantly enhanced the visibility of people with Down’s syndrome and the charity’s profile throughout Scotland and the UK, culminating in the charity’s award-winning run at the recent RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Speaking about today’s announcement, Dr Andrea Tonner, Chair of DSS, said: “We all owe Eddie a huge debt of gratitude for his incredible commitment and dedication to the role of Chief Executive of our charity. He is hugely respected and his influence in driving improvements and much needed change for people with Down’s syndrome and their families has been relentless. He leaves Down’s Syndrome Scotland in great shape, confident about it’s future and ready to take the next step in ensuring that everyone in our community achieves their fullest potential. We all wish him well in his ‘retirement’ and will watch with interest what he tackles next!”
Responding to the announcement, Eddie McConnell said: “It has been the privilege of my life to lead this wonderful charity and I am so grateful for all of the support I have received from many great colleagues, from our Branch Chairs, the Board of Trustees, our Expert Group and so many partners and supporters who have joined our mission.
As the father of a young man with Down’s syndrome, I am indebted to everyone who has stepped forward and campaigned for change. It is now time to hand the baton on to a new Chief Executive to lead the organisation into its new chapter and I wish everyone well as we continue to celebrate and campaign for our fellow citizens who rock that extra chromosome.”
Eddie will leave the charity at the end of the year.
The Board of Trustees is delighted to be working with Lesley Gilmartin and Scott Miller at LHH Executive Search to recruit and appoint a new Chief Executive for the charity. For information on the opportunity to become the charity’s next Chief Executive, please download a recruitment pack here.
For further information, please contact Andrea Tonner, Chair of DSS at: a.tonner@strath.ac.uk