Lending to support Shropshire’s wildlife

Neil Heslop, OBE

Chief Executive

Neil has had a distinguished 35 year leadership career in business and the charitable sector. As Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation since October 2020, annual charitable contributions entrusted to CAF have doubled to £1.3 billion in 2024/25, supporting hundreds of thousands of charities globally, with  CAF's International Network of partners growing into  a collaboration of philanthropic organisations with reach across six continents.

During 25 years in business, Neil held senior Executive roles in the telecommunications industry in North America and Europe including CEO of Cincinnati Bell Wireless LLC, Director of CTIA the Wireless Association, and Head of Strategy at O2 Plc. He holds a law degree from Newcastle University and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. 

In 1992, Neil co-founded the Blind In Business charity and advised the UK Government on the Disability Discrimination Act, which evolved into the Equalities Act 2010, and has previously served as Co-Chair of the Disability Charities Consortium comprising nine major UK disability charities promoting the interests of 14 million disabled people. He also served as Chief Executive of international disability NGO Leonard Cheshire, Managing Director of the Royal National Institute of Blind People and as Non-Executive Director of Charity Bank. 

Neil was a member of the Treasury and DCMS appointed Social Impact Investment Advisory Group, a body that played a key role in establishing the Office for Impact Economy in November 2025. Neil currently serves as a Trustee of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations. 
Neil, who lost his sight aged 20 and is registered blind, was awarded the OBE in 2002 for services to British Telecommunications and charity.