New Chief Operating Officer Appointment

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Simon Danks as our new Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the commercial and operations life of the Cathedral, working closely with the Dean, other clergy, heads of department and all Cathedral staff in delivering our mission from a sustainable base. The cathedral is a complex organisation with many aspects to its life, and Simon will offer support across the organisation, including playing a key role in helping Chapter confirm a new Strategic Plan for 2023-28 and enabling its delivery.

Simon was born in Nuneaton and raised in Coventry. After studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bradford he settled in Halesowen working in the automotive supply chain. A passion for manufacturing quickly developed and this was followed by an interest in how to improve the processes for which he was responsible. This focus of process improvement has become the foundation for the rest of his career, coupled with the desire to see people make the most of the skills and talents that they have been given. Operational leadership roles in the manufacturing sector and business improvement roles across multiple sectors have given Simon a very rounded view of what it takes to run a business. This has now been coupled with 20 years of voluntary experience in senior leadership roles in the charity sector, including more recently as Chair of Coventry Diocesan Board of Finance, which has given him a significant understanding of both the diocese and the Cathedral. Simon is married with a grown-up family, moved to Bedworth in 2015 where he is currently actively involved at All Saints church.

Dean John Witcombe said,

"We are looking forward very much to working with Simon as he joins us in September. We are very fortunate to have found someone who passionately shares the Cathedral's values and brings wide experience in strategy and operations as we continue to embrace the challenges of delivering our unique mission, in a church and a world which needs to know the reality of God's ministry of reconciliation today. He joins an experienced and committed team, who will give him every support as he steps into this significant role."

Simon Danks said:

"I am excited by the opportunity to join the Cathedral staff and to bring my skills and experience to support the life and mission of the Cathedral in all its many facets. Having been raised in Coventry I had a soft spot for the story of the Cathedral but since returning to the area and becoming involved with the life of the diocese I have come to understand the broader impact of its work. Being an engineer, caring for two grade I listed buildings is as interesting a prospect as supporting the missional work and as challenging a prospect as the likely balancing of budgets - I'm thoroughly looking forward to the variety that the role will bring."