The campaigning body Friends of the Earth has appointed two people to job-share its chief executive position for the first time.
Miriam Turner and Hugh Knowles, who have shared the role of director of innovation at the organisation since 2017, have been the interim chief executives since Craig Bennett stepped down in February.
They will take up the post permanently from 11 January, Friends of the Earth said.
Turner will also be the first woman to lead the 49-year-old organisation.
Before joining Friends of the Earth in 2017, Turner ran collaborative innovation at global sustainable flooring company Interface Inc. She is also a global fellow and trustee of the League of Intrapreneurs, a global movement of changemakers working to transform organisations from the inside-out.
Knowles, who also joined Friends of the Earth in 2017, was previously head of innovation at the sustainability charity Forum for the Future.
Frances Butler, chair of Friends of the Earth, said the CEO role required innovative leadership and Turner and Knowles stood out from a strong field of candidates.
“They have ably shown that chief executive job-sharing works, and we are delighted at last to welcome a woman to the post,” said Butler.
“Our collective action in response to the climate, nature and inequality emergencies will be strengthened under their bold and visionary leadership.”
In a joint statement, Turner and Knowles said: “It is a huge privilege to take on the leadership of this very special organisation as it comes into its 50th year.”
