Animal-welfare charity the RSPCA has appointed NSPCC communications chief John Grounds as its new director of marketing and campaigns.
His role will cover all aspects of marketing, public affairs, campaigning, fundraising, education, PR and international work as well as the society’s science teams.
Grounds has been at the NSPCC for the past 11 years, both as its director of communications where he and his team led the public face of Full Stop campaign and, more recently, as its director of child protection consultancy.
He started his career in 1991 at CND, where he was head of PR and campaigns. Grounds then took up a similar role at the Body Shop International, where he stayed for over six years. In 1996 he joined Barnardo’s as head of comms, followed by a stint at Action Research.
Grounds joined the NSPCC in January 2002, and has recently been appointed as chairman of Charity Comms, the professional body for charity communicators.
He said: “It’s a great privilege to take on this role at the RSPCA. The heritage surrounding the organisation is humbling and a wonderful platform on which to build.
“It is a trusted and respected brand with the potential to do even more, not only for the welfare of animals but in building a more caring and compassionate society.
“The organisation is full of talented and committed people with a passion for their work. I’m looking forward to working with my new colleagues in shaping the next phase of the RSPCA’s history.”
The RSPCA’s direct marketing account has been in limbo since the collapse of its dedicated agency Whitewater earlier this year. The agency had worked with the charity for nine years, having won the business in 2003 from WWAV (now Rapp), which itself had held the account for about a decade.
Grounds’ appointment may well prove beneficial for Rapp, as the agency worked for the charity for many years and was one of the driving forces behind the NSPCC’s Full Stop campaign which he spearheaded.
Related stories
RSPCA review to replace Whitewater
