Charles Gurassa, Chair, Oxfam GB

Charles Gurassa has been Chair of Oxfam GB since October 2020. He has extensive senior leadership and governance experience, including managing transformative change – and a passion for Oxfam’s values and work.

Charles is Chair of the Guardian Media Group, having previously been Chair of Channel 4 until 2022, and has been a Trustee of English Heritage since 2015. From 2005-2014 he served in board-level roles for the National Trust, including as Deputy Chair from 2013-14 and as Chair of National Trust Enterprises (2006-2013). Charles has also supported the Migration Museum in London as Chair since 2021 having been a Trustee since 2014 and chaired Genesis Housing Group, a housing association, from 2010-2017.

Other current and recent non-executive positions include:
2018 – current: Great Rail Journeys Chair
2011– end 2020: EasyJet Deputy Chair
2013 – 2019: Merlin Entertainments Group Senior Independent Director

In addition to not-for-profit and non-executive experience, Charles brings decades of executive experience, including as former chief executive of both Thomson Travel and TUI Northern Europe. He started his career as a youth worker with Youth Action York before moving into the travel and tourism sector. Charles made the decision in 2003 to step back from full-time executive roles for family reasons and since then has held a diverse range of non-executive positions.

Charles lives in London but loves to spend time in Italy. His hobbies include music, theatre, tennis, and football (he’s a Chelsea fan).