CST Chief Executive Richard Benson steps down

CST's Chief Executive, Richard Benson has decided to step down after 12 successful years at the helm. At the same time, CST announces that David Delew, currently CST’s Northern Regional Director, has been appointed his successor.

Following a three month handover period, David will assume responsibility at CST’s North London head office on 27th September, 2013.

Gerald Ronson, CST Chairman stated:

For over a decade, Richard Benson has been one of Britain’s foremost Jewish communal professionals. He has made a significant impact upon our communal life. His leadership and vision enabled CST to bring its charitable activities to the attention of the key political and media commentators, ensuring that our communal concerns are understood and acted upon.

Richard led CST’s security volunteers and staff with the utmost professionalism, and implemented our installation of security upgrades to many hundreds of communal venues. On behalf of CST’s trustees, I thank him for his tireless efforts; professionalism; expertise and focus, and I know that all of CST’s volunteers and supporters will join me in wishing him every success in the future.

I welcome David Delew to his new role, and am confident that both he and CST will continue moving forward in service of our community.

Richard Benson stated:

I joined the CST as a volunteer, wanting to give something back and do something for my community in my spare time. Since then, CST has become an integral part of my life and I want to thank my family, my colleagues, volunteers and CST’s trustees for the support that they have given me. Above all, however, CST’s Chairman, Gerald Ronson has simply been an inspiration throughout.

The work has always been challenging, but most of all it has simply been a privilege to head CST and champion its work. CST is rightly recognised as both a global leader in communal security work and a shining example of Anglo-Jewry at its best. I am delighted that CST’s Board has invited me to continue my involvement by joining them, thereby ensuring my knowledge and passion is still utilised for the good of our community.

I wish David Delew all the very best in his new exciting role and know he will be a great asset. Now, embarking on the next stage of my own career, I will be taking up a position as a Director in Gerald Ronson’s Rontec.

David Delew stated:

I want to thank Gerald Ronson and Richard Benson for giving me this opportunity to lead CST’s volunteers and staff. I am passionate about CST’s mission of combating antisemitism through working in constructive partnership with our community, Police and others. We face these challenges jointly and must stand together against them.

Richard Benson began his CST career as a volunteer security officer in 1993, whilst working in commercial property. Richard joined CST’s full time staff in 1998 as Head of Security and has been CST’s Chief Executive since 2001. Under his leadership CST has become one of Britain’s foremost Jewish charities and a global leader in community-based security work. Richard now leaves a team of 64 full-time staff and 3,000 security volunteers, who are together responsible for the work of CST: covering security, marketing and communications, information and research, Government and Police liaison, international engagement and fundraising.

Richard’s role has included initiating and co-ordinating strategic planning, managing financial administration, liaising with community leaders, all main political parties, senior police officers at Scotland Yard, National Police Constabularies, Association of Chief Police Officers, Police  Independent Advisory Groups, and representatives of Government and statutory authorities.

CST represents the community to numerous Police and Government bodies, as well as a number of UK and international forums, including multi-faith and diversity groups. Richard was involved with the UK's Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism (2005-2006), and is a member of the ongoing inter-departmental Antisemitism Working Group, established by Government following the key recommendations of the Inquiry. He also organised and ran the professionals and experts seminar at the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism Conference in London (2010). Richard also advises other communities on how to record and investigate all forms of hate crime.

David Delew began his CST career as a volunteer security officer in 1985, before joining CST’s full time staff in London in 1991. He moved to Manchester in 1998 as CST’s first Northern Regional Director. David successfully managed the development of CST’s Northern Region office in Manchester, working with Jewish communities and Regional Police forces throughout Central and Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. He has led numerous highly complex security operations and leads CST’s emergency planning work with Jewish communities and partner groups in both Britain and mainland Europe. He has an MBA in management studies.