Andy Fletcher appointed as our new Chief Executive

15 August 2024

We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Andy Fletcher as our new Chief Executive. This appointment comes after our previous Chief Executive, Cat Woodhead, announced she was leaving after eight years at the charity.

Andy is currently Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives, the UK charity for children’s palliative care, which he joined in 2018. In this role, he led significant growth in the charity’s impact and income, extending support for families and professionals, supporting quality improvement in palliative care, and successfully advocating for better funding. He was previously Chief Executive of Longfield, a provider of community hospice care in Gloucestershire, and Director of External Affairs at Together for Short Lives. A teacher by training, Andy’s career has involved leading strategic development, public affairs, and communications in both the private and voluntary sectors.

Professor Mike Hanna, Chair of Muscular Dystrophy UK said: “We’re delighted to have appointed Andy Fletcher as our new Chief Executive. Andy brings a wealth of experience in advocacy and strategic development at a charity that supports families, healthcare professionals and services, and has proven to be an exceptional leader who is aligned to our culture and values. We look forward to working with Andy and believe that he is the best person to build on the success of our outgoing Chief Executive, work with our committed staff and lead us into the future, ensuring we do the best for the muscle wasting and weakening community.”

Andy Fletcher said: “I am delighted to be joining Muscular Dystrophy UK as Chief Executive. Having worked with children with forms of muscular dystrophy for many years, I understand that living with a muscle wasting condition can be exhausting, stressful and lonely. It has never been more important that the charity is here to support this community to live well. I am looking forward to joining the team.”

Andy will start in November. Our Chief Operating Officer, Wojtek Trzcinski, will continue to act as Chief Executive in the interim.