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John Low (charity executive)

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Sir John Menzies Low, CBE, CEng, FRSA (born 1 July 1953) is an international civil society leader, with a commercial background in science, technology and engineering.[1]  From 2007 to 2020, he was group chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). He was previously the chief executive of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID).

Early life and education

Low was born in Aberdeen on 1 July 1953[2] and he was educated at Northfield Secondary School and Aberdeen Academy.  He studied Electronic Engineering at Robert Gordon’s Institute of Technology, graduating Bachelor of Science (BSc) in 1975.[3] Low undertook postgraduate research in Medical Physics at the University of Aberdeen between 1975 and 1979, examining auditory feedback and its effects on speech fluency, leading to Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).[4][5][6] He was education in business management at Templeton College, University of Oxford (AMP)[7] and National School of Government, Cabinet Office (TMP).

Career

His early commercial career was in research and development with specialist engineering and technology businesses. In 1984 he was appointed Technical Director at William McGeoch & Co, before taking up the role of R&D Director at Sortex Ltd in 1988,[8] a specialist division within the Swiss technology group Bühler AG.  Sortex was an innovator in machine vision and automated sorting systems.  Bühler’s website states, “Two billion people each day enjoy foods produced on Bühler equipment.”[9]

After 20 years in the technology industry, Low moved to the voluntary sector in 1999, initially as Executive Director of Research at the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID),[10] appointed Chief Executive in 2002.[11]  RNID is the largest charity for the UK’s 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people.

In 2007 Low was appointed group Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).[12]  In notes published by the Cabinet Office to accompany his Knighthood in 2017, Low is credited as having, “overseen a significant increase in the funds raised from donors and distributed to charities; developed a vehicle to provide charities with early stage capital; restructured and recapitalised the Charity Bank; created an extensive research wing; and made the Foundation the core co-ordinating voice for the charity sector as a whole.”[13][14] He left CAF and retired from executive management in 2020.

Low has also been Chair of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO);[15] director of Charity Bank Ltd;[16] a founder and President of Euclid Network - the European network of social entrepreneurs and civil society leaders;[17] served on the House of Lords Appointment Commission[18] and as a member of Council at City University of London.[19]

He is currently Chair of the Potanin Foundation.[20] and Secretary of Hertford Baptist Church.[21] From 2018 to 2022 Chair of the BBC Appeals Advisory Committee,[22]

Honours

Low was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2008 for services to the voluntary sector and to deaf people.[23]

In the Queen's Birthday Honours 2017, Low was appointed Knight Bachelor for charitable services.[24]

References

  1. ^ "John Menzies LOW - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Birthdays p39". The Guardian. 1 July 2014.
  3. ^ Molyneux, Jodie. "From Northfield to knighthood: Aberdeen man honoured for charity work". Evening Express. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  4. ^ Low, John (1977). "Electronic Inhibition of Stammer". Television (Royal Television Society Magazine). 16: 19–27.
  5. ^ Low, John M; Lindsay, Duncan D (1979). "A Body-Worn Delayed Auditory Feedback Fluency Aid for Stammers". Journal of Biomedical Engineering. 1 [4] (4): 235–239. doi:10.1016/0141-5425(79)90157-2. PMID 395367.
  6. ^ Downie, A W; Low, J M; Lindsay, D D (1981). "Speech Disorder in Parkinson". British Journal of Disorders of Communication. 16 [2] (2): 135–139. doi:10.3109/13682828109011394. PMID 7326211.
  7. ^ Low, John; Blois, Keith (2002). "The evolution of generic brands in industrial markets: the challenges to owners of brand equity". Industrial Marketing Management. 31 [5] (5): 385–392. doi:10.1016/S0019-8501(00)00131-0.
  8. ^ "BÜHLER UK LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Bühler Group | About us". www.buhlergroup.com. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  10. ^ "RNID Annual Report & Accounts 1998/99 p49".
  11. ^ "RNID Annual Report & Accounts 2002/03 p6".
  12. ^ "CAF hires John Low as new chief". Civil Society News. 1 May 2007.
  13. ^ "Birthday Honours 2017: notes on the higher awards" (PDF).
  14. ^ "CAF grants record £702m to charities". Civil Society News. 28 August 2020.
  15. ^ "ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVES OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS - Officers (free information from Companies House)". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  16. ^ "THE CHARITY BANK LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Honorary Membership granted to Sir John Low, former EN President". Euclid Network. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  18. ^ "House of Lords Appointments Commission Report October 2011 to September 2013 p14" (PDF). 2013.
  19. ^ "City, University of London Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended 31st July 2020 p10" (PDF).
  20. ^ "THE POTANIN FOUNDATION - Charity 1112813". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Meet the Team". Hertford Baptist Church. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Appeals Advisory Committee". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  23. ^ "The London Gazette (Supplement) No. 58729". 14 June 2008. p. 7.
  24. ^ "The London Gazette (Supplement) No. 61962". 16 June 2017. p. B2.
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