CHAI CANCER CARE ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Chai Cancer Care is delighted to announce that Victoria Portnoi has been appointed as the organisation’s new CEO. Victoria will assume the position in February 2025 and will succeed Chai’s outgoing Chief Executive, Lisa Steele, who announced her plans to retire in the summer.

The decision to appoint Victoria comes at the end of a thorough recruitment process, that saw numerous applicants for this hugely important communal role.

The move is a career shift for Victoria who has spent the last 25 years in television, most recently as Managing Director of Slider TV. However, she is no stranger to communal life, having completed a 4-year stint as Chair of Brondesbury Park United Synagogue in May.

Victoria brings a strategic approach and creative thinking to the role, together with extensive experience of managing both professional and volunteer-led teams. This will be essential as she takes the helm at an organisation with over 250 staff and volunteers, providing 70 services from 11 centres across the country.

Victoria, originally from Manchester, will work closely with Chai’s Chairman, Louise Hager, to develop and expand the organisation’s services and reach. She said, “It is an enormous privilege and honour to be joining Chai as CEO at this important period in its development. We all know someone whose life has been affected by cancer and I look forward to working with Louise, the Trustees and the dedicated Chai team across the UK to help ensure that Chai provides the very best support and care that is the hallmark of the organisation. Lisa’s vision and commitment have been critical to Chai over the years and I wish her the very best for the future.”

Lisa Steele, who steps down at the end of January said, “It has been one of the greatest privileges of my working life to have led Chai as CEO for the past twelve years and to have played a part in delivering our extensive range of specialised services to those affected by cancer in our community. I wish Victoria tremendous success and I have no doubt she will take the organisation from strength to strength.”

Speaking on behalf of the Trustees Louise Hager, said, “We are all, of course, sad to see Lisa leave. We have worked together for over two decades and her dedication and contribution to Chai’s significant expansion have been immense. Lisa will always be an integral part of the Chai Family and we wish her much happiness as she looks to spend more time with her grandchildren.

Simultaneously, we are so pleased to welcome Victoria and for Chai to benefit from the multifaceted experience she brings to the role.

The demand for our support has never been greater. As we look ahead, Victoria will play a major part in implementing our exciting plans, enabling Chai to continue to lead and innovate in the field of supportive cancer care, for our community and beyond.”