In his announcement, Rich said that “interim arrangements” were being made while recruitment for a permanent successor gets underway at the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority. 

His replacement will be the fourth CEO of the organisation in under three years, following the death of Paul Broadbent in December 2017 and the tenure of interim CEO Roger Bannister prior to Rich’s appointment.

“The announcement has been made today within the organisation, and so I wanted to let you know personally before any wider external announcements are made,” he said.

He went on to say: “It has not been an easy decision given how much I believe in the vital mission of the organisation, but I believe the time is right for me to step down. Having made changes within the organisation, I am confident the team in place will continue to provide the leadership needed for the GLAA to protect vulnerable and exploited workers.”

Chair of the GLAA board Margaret Beels said the board was “extremely grateful” to Rich and wished him the best for the future.

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