Blythswood Care
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 Care.
Our mission is to transform lives through the impact of education, community action and gospel activities. As a Christian charity committed to the gospel, we aim to operate to the values of compassion, excellence, impartiality, respect, responsibility and sustainability.
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 a daughter 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 a daughter 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
Head of Operations
Ian, the Head of Operations, has overall management of Blythswood Care’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 Care’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.
Ian Matheson
Head of Operations
Ian, the Head of Operations, has overall management of Blythswood Care’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 Care’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, Communication and Compliance
Fiona leads the Human Resources, Compliance and Marketing teams. 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 People, Communication and Compliance
Fiona leads the Human Resources, Compliance and Marketing teams. 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 Overseas Projects
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 Overseas Projects
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 Fundraising
Elma has worked for Blythswood since 2019, first as Area Fundraising Manager, and now as Head of Fundraising with responsibility for leading and developing the fundraising 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 a grandson. 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 ofFundraising
Elma has worked for Blythswood since 2019, first as Area Fundraising Manager, and now as Head of Fundraising with responsibility for leading and developing the fundraising 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 a grandson. 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 Swanson
Head of UK Projects
Alan has been with Blythswood since 2003 having previously worked with Tesco. For almost 20 years he has managed the retail shops within Blythswood and has recently moved to projects. He is a member of Harper Memorial Baptist Church in Glasgow where he serves as Treasurer. Alan has been supporting mission work in Serbia since he first went there back in 1994 with Oak Hall.
Alan Swanson
Head of UK Projects
Alan has been with Blythswood since 2003 having previously worked with Tesco. For almost 20 years he has managed the retail shops within Blythswood and has recently moved to projects. He is a member of Harper Memorial Baptist Church in Glasgow where he serves as Treasurer. Alan has been supporting mission work in Serbia since he first went there back in 1994 with Oak Hall.