We’re delighted to share the news with you that Viva has appointed Phil Green as its new CEO.
Phil is passionate about bringing people, churches and organisations together to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children – and that, in one way or another, is what he has spent most of his working life doing.
Phil currently splits his time between being Global Partnerships Lead for World Without Orphans (WWO) and CEO of Mission Housing.
Previously, Phil was CEO of Home for Good and he is a trustee of several charities – including Spurgeon’s Children Charity, one of the UK’s leading children’s charities.
Phil will start at Viva initially for two days a week during November and full-time from December. He says, “Over the past few years, whenever I’ve encountered someone from the Viva team, or seen the results of one of Viva’s programmes, I’ve always been impressed.
“It’s a privilege to be joining an organisation with such a strong track record, and with a staff team, volunteers and a Board that is so committed to making an even greater impact on the lives of children around the world.”
Phil continues, “The work being undertaken by Viva’s partner networks around the world is inspiring and making such a difference. The reach is phenomenal, and the potential to extend that reach – in both breadth and depth – is massive.
“With the challenges facing children around the world being so great, it is essential that we move forward, serve our partners well, and together see many more children reach their God-given potential.”
Adrian Cooper, Chair of Viva’s International Board, says, “The Board of Trustees is delighted that Phil Green will be Viva’s next CEO. Phil already knows Viva well, having worked closely with our team on a number of projects over many years.
“He has a clear passion for bringing Christians together to change more children’s lives to fulfil their God-given potential. Moreover, Phil has a strong track record in leading and growing charities, and in increasing their impact in serving children at risk.
“The Board of Trustees would also like to thank outgoing CEO, Mark Stavers, for his faithful service to Viva over the last ten years.”
During this last decade, under Mark’s leadership, Viva has more than tripled the number of children it is impacting each year – from 810,000 to more than three million children. It has also increased its number of partner networks by 20 per cent (from 35 to 42) and almost doubled the churches and organisations in these networks (from 2,800 to 5,400).
Mark Stavers says: “I’m so thrilled at Phil’s appointment. I think he’s going to be brilliant in leading Viva over the coming years to continue to support local churches to work collaboratively to change children’s lives across the world.
“The staff at Viva are a dedicated, professional team and our partner networks are real heroes in their committed care for vulnerable children. They all have a great new leader with Phil joining us.”
Join us in praying:
- For Phil as he makes the transition from his current positions into being Viva’s new CEO. We give thanks for who he is, for his passion and experience, and for all he will bring to the role.
- For Mark as he begins to hand over the CEO reins to Phil, and that he finishes well in the coming months. We give thanks for his faithful service and wise leadership, and pray blessings upon Mark as he moves on.
- That Viva would go from strength to strength in this new chapter, and be able to change the lives of even more children in the future.
More about Phil
Phil is married to Hannah and has two small children – Isaac and Tilly. They live in Stansted Mountfitchet and he’s a member of Community Church Bishop’s Stortford, just north of London, in the UK. He enjoys watching box sets, kayaking, DIY, gardening and sitting down to read National Geographic magazine, or a book by Malcolm Gladwell. Last Christmas he built a climbing wall for his children in the dining room!