Recruitment drive underway at Supportive as long-serving CEO John Davison announces retirement

John Davison, Supportive's CEO, has announced his retirement plans. Picture: Tom Banks/Rephrase

Supportive, one of County Durham’s leading social care and transport charities, has announced that its long-serving Chief Executive Officer, John Davison, will retire in 2026 after 14 years of dedicated service.

The announcement marks the beginning of a significant recruitment drive to find a successor capable of leading the 32-year-old charity into a new era of growth and innovation.

Since joining the organisation in 2012, John has overseen a period of unprecedented expansion.

Under his leadership, Supportive has strengthened its reputation as a vital pillar of the North-East’s healthcare infrastructure, growing its fleet from a handful of vehicles to a sophisticated operation. This features more than 20 ambulances and a dedicated crew of 50 ambulance team members working alongside the North-East Ambulance Service (NEAS).

Founded in 1994, Supportive has spent over three decades evolving to meet the needs of the community.

Today, the charity employs more than 160 homecare staff across County Durham, providing essential services ranging from emergency support for hospital leavers to specialist reablement care.

“At the heart of our service is the goal of independence,” said John. “Whether we are providing extra training to help a service user safely reuse items in their kitchen after an accident, or our 85 volunteers are driving patients from their living rooms to their consulting rooms, the focus remains on helping people live autonomous lives for as long as possible.”

The charity’s impact extends beyond home visits. Through service level agreements with local authorities and the NHS, Supportive provides a critical safety net.

Charitable funding provides extra help - such as the recent donation of six new washing machines to service users living in particularly difficult circumstances.

As Supportive enters its 33rd year, the search has begun for a new dynamic leader to help the Board of Trustees formulate a strategy for the next chapter.

John said: “Supportive has reached a very strong position. We have grown significantly over the last few years, and it is now the perfect opportunity for a new leader to come in and shape our future.

“We are looking for someone with a strong financial grounding because the organisation is complex, but equally, they must be able to lead our most important asset - our people.”

John, a 65-year-old father of two from Yarm, joined the charity following a distinguished career in local government and the Fire and Rescue Service. As he prepares to trade the boardroom for his camper van, he reflected on his 14-year tenure.

“Supportive gets into your blood,” John said. “You get sucked into the daily life of a dynamic charity where no two days are the same.

“I am incredibly proud of our team. They do extraordinary work every day. While I will miss the energy of this organisation, I am looking forward to a new chapter.”

John’s retirement will see him devote more time to his role as a governor of a primary school local to Supportive’s Ferryhill headquarters, alongside his passions for photography and cycling. He and his wife also plan to spend several months touring in their camper van.

*Individuals interested in applying for the CEO position or learning more about the charity’s work are encouraged to visit the website or contact jill.shaw@supportive.org.uk.