Atkins steps down at Friends of the Earth

Andy Atkins, ceo of Friends of the Earth(FoE), will be stepping down from his role in the summer of 2015.

Atkins has led FoE since July 2008. The organisation is one of the UK’s leading charities campaigning for fair solutions to the most urgent environmental challenges.

During his time at FoE he has renewed the organisation’s vision and mission; refreshed its research and policy making; expanded collaboration with other organisations; and provided the strategic direction that has led to many notable campaign successes.

Successes include the recent introduction of a National Pollinator Strategy to help save declining bee species and achieving commitments from global companies to find a fairer way to mine the tin used in mobile phones.

Also, under his leadership in 2012, the organisation brought certainty to the solar industry following a successful legal challenge to Government plans to cut the feed-in-tariff. He leaves the organisation with a number of strong coalitions with other NGOs on both action for the climate and restoring the natural world.

Roger Clarke, chair of Friends of the Earth board, said: “It has been a privilege working with Andy Atkins, and he should be immensely gratified by what he has achieved at Friends of the Earth. We know that the world faces many serious challenges, not least stopping dangerous climate change and helping nature to thrive again – Andy’s successor will need to build on the strong foundations he has put in place, so that we can create even bigger and better campaigns.”