The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has appointed Ruth Lake as its new Director of Strategy and Business Development.

Ruth took up her role on Monday 06 December. After a short handover period she will take over from Richard Orton, who is leaving IOSH to take up a Managing Director position elsewhere.

Prior to her appointment, Ruth had been IOSH’s Interim Director of Professional Services for several months. She has an extensive and varied background in publishing and professional bodies. She has led the commercial publishing team at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and a range of commercial and membership services at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Ruth’s 20 years’ experience covers full profit-and-loss responsibility for product and content development activities, and commercial services as well as leading communications strategy. She has also worked with global stakeholders and partners in her professional body roles, which include the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

She was previously Project Development Manager at the Landscape Institute, managing key strategic projects such as developing a new online CPD system, a strategic partnership with other professional bodies focused on high-street regeneration and establishing a new competency framework and entry standards for membership.

Speaking about her appointment, Ruth emphasised her commitment to consolidating and developing IOSH’s commercial and strategic relationships while extending the organisation’s reach to emerging markets for its products and services. She said:

“I am delighted to be taking up the role of Director of Strategy and Business Development at IOSH. Richard Orton leaves big shoes to fill, but I am very much looking forward to continuing to contribute as part of IOSH’s Senior Leadership Team, with a new focus on the Strategy and Business Development directorate.

“Over the next few months, I look forward to working with the staff team, those in volunteer and governance roles and those with whom the Strategy and Business Development Directorate works so closely – including our corporate clients, strategic partnerships and training providers – to complete the outstanding elements from the WORK 2022 strategy and help to form and deliver on the next stages of development across IOSH.”