MND Association welcomes new director

THE Motor Neurone Disease Association has welcomed new Director of People, Culture and Inclusion, Jo Mountney, with a broad remit which includes designing and implementing a new People, Culture and Inclusion strategy with the aim of attracting and retaining exceptional staff and volunteers.

Jo joins the executive leadership team of the charity after more than two decades at the Merlin Entertainments Group and brings with her a wealth of experience in strategic planning, learning and development, employee engagement and diversity and inclusion.

Jo’s focus upon joining the Association is to build upon the organisation’s positive culture with a bold new strategy to ensure staff and volunteers can develop their talents and deliver their roles with an impact on our whole community.

In addition to Jo’s skills and experiences in a professional capacity, Jo and her family are familiar with the devastating nature of MND after Jo’s father-in-law was diagnosed with the disease in 2018. He sadly died just two years later.

Jo said:

“I am really excited to be joining the team at the MND Association. As a family we have experienced firsthand the amazing work that the Association does, and as such I feel truly privileged to be joining the team and adding my contribution to the ultimate vision of a world free from MND.”

Chief Executive Tanya Curry said:

“We are delighted to welcome Jo to the team at such a pivotal time for the Association. Jo’s experience of leading teams and empowering those around her to succeed will be invaluable to both staff and volunteers of the Association. We want all of the MND community to feel represented by the Association, and Jo’s passion for inclusion and diversity will ensure this is front and centre of our work.”

MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It can affect a person’s ability to walk, talk, eat and ultimately to breathe. A third of people die within a year of diagnosis and half within two years. There is no effective treatment and no cure.