Blythswood
Our Executive Team
Blythswood Executive Team
The Blythswood Executive Team work, along with the staff and volunteers, to support, build and grow the aims, mission and values of Blythswood.
Our mission is to show God’s love, and offer the compassion, relief and hope that can change lives for good and forever.
– We bring good into times of crisis and extreme poverty through acts of kindness and the provision of immediate relief.
– We help people to change their longer-term futures for good through education and rehabilitation.
– In all our work, we seek to tell people of God’s love in sending his only Son, Jesus, so that those who believe in him might not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). This is the good news that can change lives forever.
We believe we can have the greatest impact for good by reaching out to people who are experiencing the greatest disadvantage. Working with local partners who understand the needs of their communities, we have opportunities to serve people in parts of Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa.
Jeremy Ross
Chief Executive
After 16 years in pastoral ministry in Wester Ross and Fife, Jeremy returned to work in Blythswood in 2023. His father started the organisation so Jeremy has been around Blythswood from an early age and visited Eastern Europe a few times before beginning work as South of Scotland Area Coordinator in 1998 and then Fundraising Coordinator in 2001. He was invited onto the board of Blythswood Care in 2021. Rediscovering the vital work of Blythswood impacting lives, both for temporary and everlasting good, has brought him back to play his part in leading the organisation. Jeremy is married to Fiona and they have four sons and two daughters-in-law.
Jeremy Ross
Head of Chief Executive
After 16 years in pastoral ministry in Wester Ross and Fife, Jeremy returned to work in Blythswood in 2023. His father started the organisation so Jeremy has been around Blythswood from an early age and visited Eastern Europe a few times before beginning work as South of Scotland Area Coordinator in 1998 and then Fundraising Coordinator in 2001. He was invited onto the board of Blythswood Care in 2021. Rediscovering the vital work of Blythswood impacting lives, both for temporary and everlasting good, has brought him back to play his part in leading the organisation. Jeremy is married to Fiona and they have four sons and two daughters-in-law.
Paul Davidson
Head of Finance
Paul has been with Blythswood since 2009 having previously worked in the private sector. He is married to Muriel and has three sons and one daughter. They are members of Greyfriars Free Church in Inverness. He is a keen runner with his eldest son competing at national level.
Paul Davidson
Head of Finance
Paul has been with Blythswood since 2009 having previously worked in the private sector. He is married to Muriel and has three sons and one daughter. They are members of Greyfriars Free Church in Inverness. He is a keen runner with his eldest son competing at national level.
Ian Matheson
Chief Operating Officer
Ian, the Chief Operating Officer, has overall management of Blythswood’s twenty-three Scottish reuse shops and two hub depots. The depots process donated goods for Blythswood’s shop resale and further reuse/recycling sale. This work provides essential funding towards Blythswood’s projects in Scotland and abroad. Prior to joining Blythswood, Ian spent over eighteen years implementing and project managing IT systems for clients in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Ian is married with four daughters and is an elder in the Free Church of Scotland. He is a board member of the Blythswood Romania charity, Circular Communities Scotland and The Elsie Normington Foundation.
Ian Matheson
Head of Operations
Ian, the Head of Operations, has overall management of Blythswood’s twenty-three Scottish reuse shops and two hub depots. The depots process donated goods for Blythswood’s shop resale and further reuse/recycling sale. This work provides essential funding towards Blythswood’s projects in Scotland and abroad. Prior to joining Blythswood, Ian spent over eighteen years implementing and project managing IT systems for clients in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Ian is married with four daughters and is an elder in the Free Church of Scotland. He is a board member of the Blythswood Romania charity, Community Resources Network Scotland (CRNS) and The Elsie Normington Foundation.
Fiona Connolly
Head of People and Compliance
Fiona leads the Human Resources and Compliance team. She feels it is a huge privilege to be part of the Lord’s work within Blythswood. After graduating from University Fiona worked in the personnel and training field before moving in to community development. As a Project Management Consultant Fiona worked with communities in the European Northern Periphery and Scottish Highlands to deliver partner projects to develop their economic, social and environmental potential. Formerly a Highland Councillor for 12 years, she is passionate about improving the quality of life for local people. Fiona has 2 children and is a member of Tain and Fearn Free Church.
Fiona Connolly
Head of Head of People and Compliance
Fiona leads the Human Resources and Compliance team. She feels it is a huge privilege to be part of the Lord’s work within Blythswood. After graduating from University Fiona worked in the personnel and training field before moving in to community development. As a Project Management Consultant Fiona worked with communities in the European Northern Periphery and Scottish Highlands to deliver partner projects to develop their economic, social and environmental potential. Formerly a Highland Councillor for 12 years, she is passionate about improving the quality of life for local people. Fiona has 2 children and is a member of Tain and Fearn Free Church.
Balázs Csiszer
Head of International Partnerships
Balázs has been with Blythswood Romania since 2002. Prior to this he was Executive Director of Bonus Pastor Foundation for 7 years. In his current position Balázs is responsible for setting up, maintaining and monitoring overseas projects and partners ensuring that these have sufficient support to operate efficiently. He also fills the position of Executive Director of Blythswood Romania and board member of Blythswood Serbia. Balázs’s passion is to facilitate the transformation of people’s lives through personal relationships as well as through sharing with the partner organisations his wide range of experience accumulated in 27 years in working in the charity sector in Eastern Europe and Africa.
Balázs Csiszer
Head of International Partnerships
Balázs has been with Blythswood Romania since 2002. Prior to this he was Executive Director of Bonus Pastor Foundation for 7 years. In his current position Balázs is responsible for setting up, maintaining and monitoring overseas projects and partners ensuring that these have sufficient support to operate efficiently. He also fills the position of Executive Director of Blythswood Romania and board member of Blythswood Serbia. Balázs’s passion is to facilitate the transformation of people’s lives through personal relationships as well as through sharing with the partner organisations his wide range of experience accumulated in 27 years in working in the charity sector in Eastern Europe and Africa.
Elma Mackay
Head of Communications and Engagement
Elma has worked for Blythswood since 2019, first as Area Fundraising Manager, and now Head of Communications and Engagement with responsibility for leading and developing the Communications and Engagement team. She has worked in the third sector for over 20 years and brings a wealth of experience of fundraising to Blythswood. She is married with three children, and two grandsons. Elma enjoys tennis – although more watching it than playing it these days! Elma is a member of Culloden-Balloch Baptist Church and feels immensely privileged to be part of the team at Blythswood and passionate about seeing the positive impact our work has both here in the UK and abroad.
Elma Mackay
Head of Communications and Engagement
Elma has worked for Blythswood since 2019, first as Area Fundraising Manager, and now Head of Communications and Engagement with responsibility for leading and developing the Communications and Engagement team. She has worked in the third sector for over 20 years and brings a wealth of experience of fundraising to Blythswood. She is married with three children, and two grandsons. Elma enjoys tennis – although more watching it than playing it these days! Elma is a member of Culloden-Balloch Baptist Church and feels immensely privileged to be part of the team at Blythswood and passionate about seeing the positive impact our work has both here in the UK and abroad.
Alan Kemp
Head of Retail
Alan is Blythswood’s Head of Retail leading a network of 24 charity shops across Scotland and Northern Ireland. He brings 30 years of experience in retail leadership, having worked in a variety of roles across the sector before joining Blythswood in 2020. Alan came to faith in 2008 following a radical transformation after many years of committed atheism. In 2020 he sensed a clear and miraculous call from God to step out in faith and began serving with Blythswood- a decision that opened new doors for ministry and mission through retail. He is passionate about bringing mission to the high street in and through our shops, helping our retail team play their part in changing lives for good and forever. Alan is married to Allison and they have two daughters and a son as well as a grandson.
Alan Kemp
Head of Retail
Alan is Blythswood’s Head of Retail leading a network of 24 charity shops across Scotland and Northern Ireland. He brings 30 years of experience in retail leadership, having worked in a variety of roles across the sector before joining Blythswood in 2020. Alan came to faith in 2008 following a radical transformation after many years of committed atheism. In 2020 he sensed a clear and miraculous call from God to step out in faith and began serving with Blythswood- a decision that opened new doors for ministry and mission through retail. He is passionate about bringing mission to the high street in and through our shops, helping our retail team play their part in changing lives for good and forever. Alan is married to Allison and they have two daughters and a son as well as a grandson.