Paul Brigham (43), a former marketing & planning director with ICI paints and a lay minister in the Church of England, has been appointed as the new Education & Marketing Director of Christian relief and development agency, Tearfund.
Paul, who began his working career as an officer in the Royal Navy in 1979, will oversee 100 staff working in areas as diverse as fundraising, supporter services, media relations and Tearfund’s network of 3,500 church-based volunteers. He replaces Luke Whitcomb who left Tearfund after seven years to work with the National Trust.
For the past 15 years Paul has straddled very different worlds of corporate business and pastoral parish work. While overseeing 130 Dulux Decorator stores and a turnover of £118 million, he was also on the leadership of St Mary’s Church, Thame, which involved him in preaching, pastoral work and chairing the leadership team.
“Both the business world and the Church have taught me an immense amount,” says Paul. “I hope I can use the combination of skills and experience I have accumulated over the years to help connect Tearfund supporters to the extraordinary work that is being done by Christians tackling poverty in more than 60 countries around the world.”
Doug Balfour, Tearfund General Director, welcomed Paul’s appointment, saying: “Paul brings to Tearfund a rare mix of the highest professional excellence in strategic marketing and a deep understanding of the Christian vocation to respond to the needs of people who are poor and suffering injustices.”
Paul lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife and two daughters.