The Jo Cox Foundation is delighted to announce that Olivia Field has been appointed as the charity’s new Chief Executive. Olivia will start work in January 2026, taking over from Will Fletcher, who has acted as Interim CEO since September 2024.
The Jo Cox Foundation was created in the wake of Jo’s murder to carry forward work on issues that Jo was passionate about. The charity works in three areas: nurturing stronger communities, championing respect in politics and advocating for a fairer world. Underpinning this work is the understanding that we have more in common than that which divides us.
Olivia will join the Foundation at an important moment, as we prepare to mark the 10th anniversary of Jo’s murder in June 2026. A core part of marking the 10th anniversary will be the Great Get Together on the weekend of 19th-21st June 2026, the annual celebration of everything that unites our communities, which over the last 10 years has brought hundreds of thousands of people together through community events to celebrate unity and reject division.
Olivia Field joins The Jo Cox Foundation from the British Red Cross, where she led national advocacy on UK resilience, health and social care, and refugee support. She played a central role in tackling loneliness – serving on the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, managing the British Red Cross and Co-op loneliness partnership’s advocacy, and convening the original All-Party Parliamentary Group on Loneliness.
Olivia helped secure the country’s first cross-government loneliness strategy and later supported its implementation within government. With extensive experience in policy, research, and advocacy, Olivia brings a long-standing commitment to building connected communities and promoting respectful politics – reflecting Jo Cox’s belief that we have more in common than that which divides us.
The Jo Cox Foundation is currently asking people to support next year’s Great Get Together by donating to our crowdfunder, or by signing up to the Great Get Together mailing list to stay updated about the campaign, including how you can plan your own event. Together with your support, we can make the 10th anniversary our most unifying and impactful yet – a celebration powered by the people and communities who believe in Jo’s ‘more in common’ message and live it every day.
Announcing the appointment, Jan Royall, chair of the Jo Cox Foundation, said:
“I am delighted to welcome Olivia as our new Chief Executive. With her wealth of experience and proven leadership, she will guide the Foundation into its next chapter with vision and energy. Olivia will build on Jo’s legacy and the remarkable progress of the past decade, ensuring we continue to meet society’s challenges by empowering communities, bringing people together, fostering social cohesion, and tackling loneliness. She will also be a strong voice in championing respect in politics, helping us create a healthier and more hopeful democracy.”
Olivia Field said:
“As we approach ten years since Jo’s death, I am honoured to lead The Jo Cox Foundation. This anniversary reminds us how critically Jo’s vision matters today – urging us to strengthen communities, restore a more respectful politics, and remember that we have more in common than that which divides us.
“Looking to the decade ahead, my focus is on deepening Jo’s legacy: bringing people together, renewing hope, and helping communities bridge divides in ways that are meaningful, inclusive and lasting. With the Great Get Together next year, we have a powerful opportunity to celebrate connection and everything that unites us.”
Jo’s sister Kim Leadbeater MP said:
“I am delighted to welcome Olivia as the new CEO of Jo’s Foundation. She has a proven track record of campaigning and is a passionate advocate for many of the issues Jo cared about. I am looking forward to working with her and the rest of the team at the Jo Cox Foundation ahead of the 10th anniversary of Jo’s murder to remember my sister and champion the values she held, which are so important in bringing our communities and our country together.”
Jo’s widower Brendan Cox said:
“Olivia will be a fantastic CEO with a track record of fighting on the issues Jo cared about. As we approach the ten year anniversary of Jo’s murder, Olivia is the right person to help the Foundation have even more impact in the next decade.”