Welcoming Aidan Jones as our new Chief Executive
Aidan Jones OBE has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Scouts by its Board of Trustees. He’ll join the UK’s largest youth charity from Monday 14 October, working to support half a million young people and volunteers.
He was previously Chief Executive of Relate, the largest provider of relationship support in England and Wales, where he served for five years from 2018. Prior to that, as Executive Director of WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 and Chief Executive of WorldSkills London 2011, Aidan oversaw the successful delivery of major events focused on promoting vocational skills as a positive career choice for young people.
Aidan brings a depth of experience in UK and international Scouts. He was Chief Operating Officer of the World Scout Bureau from 2012-14, and was Executive Director for EuroJam in 2005 and the Centenary World Scout Jamboree in the UK in 2007. Earlier in his career, he was the staff lead supporting the UK’s contingent to the World Scout Jamboree in Thailand in 2003. More recently he served as a member of one of the review panels to ensure Scouts learnt from its participation in the 2023 World Scout Jamboree.
Aidan comments: 'Having been involved in Scouts for more than 50 years I’ve benefitted personally from the skills I’ve learned and the friendships I’ve made. I’m excited to be returning to Scouts as Chief Executive and I’m looking forward to leading the staff team which works to support almost half a million young people and volunteers, to further increase the Movement’s positive impact.'
As one of six children, Scouts became Aidan’s second family when he joined as a Cub Scout. As an adult, he progressed through several local Scout volunteer leadership roles in the UK before becoming a volunteer at Kandersteg International Scout Centre 1989/90 winter season. He stayed at the Centre until 1996, firstly as Assistant Director for two years and then as Director for four years.
Scouts Chair of the Trustees, Jennie Price adds: 'I am very pleased to welcome Aidan as the new CEO of the Scouts. He has a deep understanding of the Scouting movement and as a CEO of a major charity has led organisations through considerable change. I am sure that his breadth of experience and his strong commitment to giving young people skills for life will stand us in good stead for the future.'
Aidan’s appointment follows the departure of Matt Hyde OBE in September, who served the youth charity for eleven years as Chief Executive and as a volunteer Scout leader, and is now leading the Lloyds Bank Foundation.