After 13 years leading the Foundation as our Chief Executive, Dame Caroline Mason will be stepping down from her role in early 2027. Caroline has developed and strengthened the Foundation’s work in lasting ways and her influence has spread far beyond Esmée.
Caroline has shaped Esmée into a foundation that is at the forefront of the way that modern funders operate. With Caroline leading the team, Esmée’s strategy has evolved from broad and responsive to more purposeful and impact-led, recognising the interdependent systems we are working to change. As part of this, Caroline has pushed us to be more ambitious – to ask ‘what more we could do’ across the full range of tools that we have at our disposal.
As Chief Executive, Caroline broadened Esmée’s remit beyond the traditional charity sector to work collaboratively with others including regulators, investors, and academics. This was done while maintaining Esmée’s commitment to long-term, unrestricted grants and to responding to need during times of crisis.
As an investor, Caroline’s expertise has helped guide Esmée’s sustainable approach, with a dual mandate to align investments with our mission and goals, whilst maintaining financial returns. Esmée’s social investment fund has risen from £26m to £60m, and the team’s work on impact investing is sector leading.
Dame Caroline Mason, Chief Executive of Esmée Fairbairn Foundation said:
“Throughout the last 13 years, I have tried hard to balance the potential that exists in Esmée with its wonderful unique qualities of a trust-based, low ego culture. I want to thank the Trustees and the amazing team of people that I have worked with for their faith and support along the way. It has been the privilege of my career to be CEO at Esmée.”
Beatrice Hollond, Chair of Trustees at Esmée Fairbairn Foundation said
“What a superb job Caroline has done - Esmée has made amazing progress under her tenure. We will all be sad to see Caroline leave, but she is going out on a high. Esmée’s approach to investing and giving that makes a difference to people, places and nature in the UK has never been stronger.”
We know that everyone who has worked with Caroline, including the organisations we fund and work alongside, will share in our heartfelt thanks for Caroline’s leadership and wish her all the best for her next venture.
We will share recruitment details in the coming weeks for the next Chief Executive to continue Esmée’s work.
