Woodgreen Pets Charity appoints new CEO

Rohan Putter has taken the mantle of chief executive officer at Woodgreen Pets Charity. With a fresh brand identity and a new strategic vision to bring to life, Rohan’s sights are set firmly on establishing Woodgreen as the leading, national charity that supports both pets in need and the people who care for them. 

Rohan has spent the last three years as Woodgreen’s director of income & innovation, during which time the charity’s annual fundraising total has grown by almost 50% to a record-breaking prediction of £18 million for this financial year. Under his leadership, there has been a significant expansion in Woodgreen’s retail estate and the launch of an online shop, the development of a new digital fundraising team, profitable partnerships secured with high-calibre corporate brands, and a number of hugely successful appeals. These funds enabled Woodgreen to open its doors to 2,282 dogs, cats and small animals last year, and to provide direct support to 4,837 pets in their homes.  

Rohan has played an instrumental role in a number of other transformative projects at Woodgreen, including managing the negotiations and production of The Dog House – the BAFTA-nominated Channel 4 show that’s filmed at the charity’s centre in Cambridgeshire. A new pet CRM system implemented by Rohan’s team is streamlining processes and increasing efficiency for those working to provide much-needed support to those in need, and Rohan has also been at the forefront of the development of a new brand identity. 

Woodgreen’s new role – ‘helping pets and their people’ – will help the charity chart an innovative new path to support pets and pet owners in homes across the UK, preventing vulnerability and suffering from happening in the first place, in order to keep pets in loving homes. Woodgreen’s traditional rescue and rehoming services will continue to grow and evolve to keep the charity at the forefront of pet welfare and wellbeing.

Rohan’s passion and determination, combined with his knowledge and relationships within Woodgreen, put him in the ideal position to continue the work of Clive Byles, who held the position for the past eight years. Commenting on the new role, Rohan said: “I’m incredibly excited to be starting as CEO, and grateful to our Trustees for their belief in my vision for the charity’s future. As we approach our centennial in 2024, Woodgreen has remarkable potential to provide a much-needed and unique impact for pets and pet owners in need. I look forward to continuing work with our dedicated staff and volunteers to bring our expertise and services to a much wider audience.” 

For more than a decade, Rohan has held senior roles at some of the UK’s biggest and best-known charities. Prior to Woodgreen, Rohan spent two years as the director of fundraising & marketing at Blood Cancer UK, almost three years as the deputy director of fundraising at Barnardo’s, and four years as the head of fundraising business strategy at Marie Curie.