Senior Management Team

Ruth Sutherland, Interim Chief Executive & Chief Operating Officer

Following Neil Hunt's decision to step down as Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Society, Ruth Sutherland has taken on the role of Interim Chief Executive until a replacement for Neil is recruited. Ruth continues with her responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer.

Before joining the Society, Ruth Sutherland was the Director of Services with Rethink, the largest voluntary provider of mental health services; before this she was the Northern Ireland Director for Rethink.

She was the founding Director of The Community Development & Health Network based in Northern Ireland.

Ruth qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1984 but has spent the majority of her career in health promotion, holding a range of management posts in England and Northern Ireland.

Throughout her career she has developed a sustained interest in inequalities in health.

Prior to her current role as Chief Operating Officer at Alzheimer's Society, Ruth Sutherland was the Director of Services with Rethink, the largest voluntary provider of mental health services; before this she was the Northern Ireland Director for Rethink. 

Andrew Ketteringham, Director of External Affairs

Andrew joined the Society in October 2006, prior to which he was Director of Policy and Corporate Affairs at the General Medical Council. He has spent most of his working life in the City of London, working from 1973 - 1996 for TSB Group and Lloyds TSB.

He worked in the financial futures market when it opened in 1982, worked on the flotation of TSB and was Director of Public Affairs for several years before he left.

Between the bank and the GMC he spent three years at the Broadcasting Standards Commission.

Outside work he has spent the last 20 years as the chair of a large housing association.

Jo Swinhoe, Director of Fundraising and Marketing

A professional fundraiser for 15 years, Jo has been Director of Fundraising and Marketing with Alzheimer's Society, since 2005, having previously been with the NSPCC and charities local to her home in Sheffield.

Jo was an officer in the British Army for seven years. Jo is also a Governor of Sheffield Hallam University and an active volunteer in her community.

Matthew Sellen FCCA, Director of Corporate Resources and Company Secretary

Matthew Sellen joined Alzheimer's Society in July 2006 as Head of Finance, prior to which he had held a number of senior positions in finance and IT in the corporate sector.

In December 2007 he assumed the position of Director of Corporate Resources, taking on responsibility for IT, facilities and compliance, whilst retaining his remit for overseeing the financial wellbeing of the Society.

Professor Clive Ballard, Director of Research

Clive Ballard is Director of Research for Alzheimer's Society and Professor of Age Related Disorders at Kings College London/Institute of Psychiatry.

He was previously Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Newcastle. Ongoing programmes of research include scientific studies and clinical trials in the areas of vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, psychiatric and behavioural symptoms in people with dementia and dementia in Down's syndrome.

Dr Susanne Sorensen, Head of Research

Susanne Sorensen moved to be Head of Research in Alzheimer's Society from the position as research manager in Research into Ageing / Help the Aged in 2003.

Prior to managing health research programmes, Susanne was an active researcher for 18 years specialising in membrane proteins and digestive diseases and worked in a number of universities in Denmark and UK.