Business in the Community appoints Ndidi Okezie OBE as Chief Executive Officer

Business in the Community (BITC) is delighted to announce the appointment of Ndidi Okezie OBE as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 3 March 2026. 

Ndidi brings more than twenty years’ experience leading organisational growth, building coalitions, and driving large-scale social impact across education, business, and civil society. She began her career as a teacher through the Leadership Development Programme at Teach First, before moving into senior executive roles across the education and corporate sectors, including at Pearson. 

Most recently, as Chief Executive of UK Youth, Ndidi led a major organisational transformation, tripling income and significantly expanding national, cross-sector impact. She also served for five years as a Board Advisor to Sky, helping guide its £30 million commitment to representation and inclusion. 

Peter Harrison, Chair of Business in the Community, said: 

We are thrilled to welcome Ndidi as BITC’s new Chief Executive. Her energy, clarity of purpose, and deep experience of building partnerships across sectors make her the ideal leader for this next chapter. The Board has every confidence that Ndidi will build on BITC’s remarkable legacy and lead the organisation into a new era of impact.

On her appointment, Ndidi Okezie said: 

I am deeply honoured to be joining Business in the Community at such a pivotal moment for society and for responsible business leadership. This role represents the convergence of everything I’ve championed throughout my career – cross-sector coalition building, systems-change thinking, and the belief that business must be a force for meaningful social progress. 
 
Founded over forty years ago by King Charles III, BITC has built an unmatched legacy of trust and impact. Together with our staff, Board, businesses, partners, and communities, we will build boldly on those foundations to shape the next chapter of BITC’s influence.

Ndidi succeeds Kieran Harding, who has served as Acting Chief Executive. Kieran will remain with the organisation through to at least September to support a smooth and stable transition. 

Business in the Community extends its sincere thanks to Kieran for his outstanding leadership and long-standing contribution to the organisation, including his significant impact in Northern Ireland. 

Ndidi will formally join BITC on 3 March 2026 and will begin her tenure by engaging closely with colleagues, members, partners, and communities across the UK. 

ENDS

Notes to editor

For further information, please contact Polly Dacam, Senior Public Affairs and Media Officer, on 020 7566 6638. 

About Business in the Community

Business in the Community (BITC) champions responsible business as essential for long-term economic growth and resilience.  

It is the UK’s leading responsible business network, working with companies of all sizes to tackle society’s most pressing challenges from climate change and place-based community regeneration to inequality, workplace wellbeing, and inclusive growth. 
 
Founded by His Majesty King Charles III in 1982, BITC has over four decades of experience in engaging business and delivering measurable impact in both business and in communities through evidence-based interventions.

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