CSP chief executive Karen Middleton to retire

Making her announcement, Karen said: ‘I have always hoped and planned to retire from full-time work by the age of 60 and I know I am in a very privileged position to be able to do so. I had thought I would stay at the CSP for perhaps five years and fit in another big job before I stopped full-time work, but I really felt back then there was still too much work to do to ensure the CSP and physiotherapy is in the place I want it to be.

‘Now, however, feels a really good time for the organisation and profession – the CSP is not only fit for purpose, but fit for the future in terms of how we work and what we do, and physiotherapy has the highest of profiles.

‘We have just embarked on an ambitious new five-year corporate strategy, and we have a fantastic new chair, vice chair and Council to lead the way. A new chief executive will bring fresh ideas, innovation and energy to help us deliver what we have set out to achieve.

The job of change will never be finished, nor should it if we are to continue to go from strength to strength. I have been clear with staff that there is a lot of work to do, but I am confident in the organisation and profession I will leave behind. 

‘I will be continuing to work as hard as ever this year on behalf of members, leading the organisation, making decisions, and holding to account. My main priority is to ensure our equity, diversity and belonging work is really embedded this year so that staff and members see our activity and feel a difference – I said from the beginning of this work, that my aim is for sustainable and meaningful change and my desire for that has not changed.'

Commenting on Karen’s announcement, Ishmael Beckford, chair of CSP Council, added:

‘There will be time later to reflect on Karen’s many achievements as chief executive so for now, I wanted to acknowledge her huge contribution to the CSP and the physiotherapy profession.

‘I will look forward to working with Karen for the rest of the year.' 

The process to recruit the next chief executive of the CSP will commence in June once Karen has formally resigned.