GRCC appoints former ACRE head as CEO

Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) has welcomed Janice Banks as its new Chief Executive Officer to take the organisation through the next stage of development.

Janice has previously worked as interim CEO for two other rural community councils (RCCs): Community Action Suffolk and Surrey Community Action.  She has also been CEO of Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), the national umbrella body for RCCs, working directly with DEFRA.

In addition to her experience in the voluntary and community sector, Janice brings to GRCC a firm understanding of commerce and organisational management from her private sector experience.  She has previously worked as an investment manager in the City, Senior Executive positions at Nationwide Building Society, and as Group Resources Director at Sovereign Housing, one of the largest housing associations in the UK.

Janice said: "I am very pleased to be joining the organisation at this time.  GRCC has a long history of helping communities across Gloucestershire and I look forward to working with the team here to help shape our future development to support the changing needs of communities across the county."

GRCC's Chair Charles Coats said: "I am delighted to welcome Janice to GRCC.  She brings a wealth of highly relevant experience with her which can be brought to bear as we move the organisation forward to ensure we continue to provide a wide range of support to communities, both rural and urban, across Gloucestershire."