Introducing Our New Co-CEO Leadership Structure

CPCAB is pleased to announce an important change in its leadership structure, moving from a single CEO to a Co-CEO structure. This change marks an exciting step in CPCAB’s continued development, strengthening the organisation's leadership and supporting its commitment to delivering high-quality qualifications and services.

What’s staying the same:

CPCAB remains the same awarding organisation, with the same qualification portfolio, the same standards and the same support offer. Our commitment to learners, centres, tutors and the wider counselling sector remains unchanged.

What’s changing:

We’re delighted that two people who know CPCAB and the counselling sector inside out will be leading the organisation:

Kelly Budd, Co-CEO (Qualifications and Quality / Responsible Officer). Kelly brings over nine years of experience at CPCAB to her new role, having most recently served as Chief Professional Standards Officer and Responsible Officer. She will have dedicated responsibility for qualification service, standards, sector relationships and qualification development.

Ray van der Poel, Co-CEO (Business and Operations). Having been a part of CPCAB for just over eight years, Ray most recently held the position of Chief Operations Officer. In his new role, he will oversee service quality, digital systems and operational reliability, ensuring the quality of the day-to-day experience you rely on.

Importantly, Kelly and Ray are not new to the sector. Both have trained as counsellors, managed a training centre delivering CPCAB qualifications and have themselves delivered CPCAB qualifications. They understand first-hand the work you do, the needs of your learners, and what good counselling training looks like.

Why we’re making this change:

Counselling has always taught us the value of genuine partnership, shared responsibility and care for the people we work with, and a co-CEO structure embodies those same principles at the top of our organisation.

As part of this transition, Anthony Crouch, one of CPCAB’s founders and CEO for over thirty years, will become Chair of the Board. Anthony’s vision and dedication have been instrumental in building CPCAB into the respected organisation it is today, and we’re delighted that he’ll continue to help shape its future.