Daughters of Charity Services appoints first lay CEO

Daughters of Charity Services has announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, Mark Choonara. Mark will be the first lay person to lead the charity since its launch in 2012, following Sister Margaret Barrett who served as Director of Mission for seven successful years.

Mark joined Daughters of Charity Services in 2016 as Operations Manager, supporting the strategic development of the organisation as it has grown and working closely with the family of charities which comprise Daughters of Charity Services. Mark has worked with the international Vincentian Family Office in Philadelphia on the issue of the transmission of the Vincentian charism, the same subject on which his MBA thesis focused. Prior to joining the organisation, Mark spent four years working at The Passage, a homelessness charity founded by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul.

Sister Ellen Flynn, Chair of Daughters of Charity Services, said: “The trustees consider that all of this Vincentian context, experience and proven delivery are essential requirements for this post. Mark’s commitment to the Vincentian ideal and his vocation to addressing poverty will help shape the future direction of Daughters of Charity Services.”

Mark said: “I’m honoured to take up this position and to support our family of charities as they serve some of the most vulnerable and excluded communities in our society in the spirit of St Vincent de Paul.”