Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Custom
Timeline
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Victoria Benson

London

Summary

Accomplished professional with extensive expertise in technical analysis, commercial advice, and solutions-focused strategies. Demonstrates strong regulatory experience and exceptional communication skills, including public and media speaking. Proven ability in relationship building, networking, and reputation management. Adept at risk management, external counsel management, and team leadership. Skilled negotiator with acute commercial awareness and crisis management expertise. Proficient in data privacy regulations, compliance oversight, intellectual property protection, corporate governance knowledge, contract drafting and negotiations. Experienced in managing legal risk with strategic thinking and industry-specific expertise. Notable achievements include successful mergers and acquisitions experience and conflict management proficiency. Career goal: to leverage strategic business advice to drive organisational success.

Accomplished legal professional with focus on corporate governance and compliance. Drive strategic initiatives, mitigate risks, and ensure regulatory adherence through comprehensive legal guidance and innovative problem-solving. Excel in contract negotiation, dispute resolution, and cross-functional collaboration to support business objectives.

Overview

31
31
years of professional experience

Work history

CEO

Gingerbread
Nationwide
02.2019 - 12.2024
  • CEO of this large, national charity. Responsible for delivering Gingerbread's mission of championing single parent families to live secure, happy and fulfilling lives.
  • Leading and growing Gingerbread through the pandemic and cost of living crisis.
  • Leading on all governance and regulatory issues, legal and commercial arrangements and risk and compliance.
  • Experienced at working with a board and building relationships and partnerships with funders, stakeholders and policy makers.
  • Skilled at influencing and campaigning.
  • Very strong communicator (both written and orally), Respected and well known leader in the sector.
  • Skilled at managing finances, risk, and at driving high performance.
  • Areas of responsibility include:
  • Leading on delivering Gingerbread's mission
  • Leading on all Legal, Governance, Compliance and Regulatory issues
  • Influencing at all levels, working with government, policy makers and other charities and raising the profile of Gingerbread and single parents
  • Building excellent relationships with funders, donors, policy makers, other charities and stakeholders
  • Working closely with regulators including the Charity Commission, Companies House and ICO
  • Representing Gingerbread externally with a broad range of stakeholders including single parent families, government, donors, funders, supporters and media
  • Working effectively with the Board to maintain high-quality governance including advising on risk, impact, sustainability and strategy
  • Ensuring sound financial management policies and procedures are in place - demonstrating good financial management and excellent risk management
  • Leading and motivating staff and developing a high performing, inclusive, happy culture
  • Leading on all contractual relationships and negotiations
  • Leading on EDI at Gingerbread.

Director of Legal & Governance, Company Secretary and Data Protection Officer

Macmillan Cancer Support
London
09.2006 - 12.2018
  • Company Overview: (London)
  • During her time at Macmillan, she grew the team from 4-18 people, was promoted to a Director and grew scope of role as the size of the organisation grew.
  • (London)
  • Areas of responsibility/work included:
  • Advising on all governance and regulatory issues including Data Protection, Safeguarding, Charity Commission, Money Laundering, Anti- Bribery Policy, ethical policy, trade-marks and pensions.
  • Working closely with regulators such as the Charity Commission, Companies House, ICO, Fundraising Regulator and Institute of Fundraising.
  • Advising CEO and the Board on a broad range of issues including reputation management, ethical issues, risk and governance.
  • Drafting, advising and negotiating on a wide range of relationships with third parties and advising on commercial agreements including collaboration agreements, research agreements, partnership agreements, advising on IP, marketing agreements, Data and technology agreements.
  • As Company Secretary for Macmillan, responsibility for Board meetings, AGM, Council Meetings and Executive Team meetings, all filings and registrations, advising the board, inducting trustees.
  • With the Senior Management Team Working on organisation-wide programmes of work including Risk & Compliance, Data Programme, strategic planning and other change projects and programmes.
  • Acting as Data Protection Officer for Macmillan.
  • Leading a high performing Legal and Governance team of 18 people and indirect management of more people.

Senior Associate, Company Commercial Department

Charles Russell
London
09.2001 - 09.2006
  • Company Overview: (London)
  • Company Commercial solicitor advising on a wide range of company commercial transactions including Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Shareholder agreements, Company formation, Sale of companies – asset/shares, Commercial agreements, Intellectual property, Charity law, governance and regulation, Advising a wide range of charities on commercial agreements, governance, partnerships, Trustee matters and other issues, Advising charities on incorporation and mergers.
  • (London)

Assistant Solicitor in Company Commercial Team

Bristows
London
09.1997 - 09.2001
  • Company Overview: (London)
  • Company Commercial solicitor advising on a wide range of company commercial transactions including Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Shareholder agreements, Company formation, Sale of companies – asset/shares, Commercial agreements, Intellectual property, Charity law, governance and regulation, Advising a range of charities on all issues including legal agreements, governance, formation, merger, trustee issues.
  • (London)

Trainee/Associate in the Corporate Team

Slaughter and May
London
09.1993 - 09.1997
  • Company Overview: (London)
  • Working on a broad range of corporate, company and commercial transactions, including listed company transactions.
  • (London)

Education

O' levels, 3 A' Levels - Economics A, History A, Geography A

West Bridgford School

LLB (Hons) -

Birmingham University

Law Society Finals -

College of Law, Chester

MSc - Charity Management

Skills

  • Inspiring leader
  • Commercial advice
  • Solutions focused
  • Regulatory experience
  • Communication
  • Public speaking
  • Media interviews
  • Relationship building
  • Reputation management
  • Risk management
  • External counsel management
  • Team management
  • Contract and commercial negotiation
  • Strategic business advice
  • Crisis management expertise
  • Expertise in Data Protection law
  • Compliance with charity law and regulation
  • Intellectual property
  • Corporate governance knowledge
  • Contract drafting and negotiation
  • Managing risk
  • Strategic thinking
  • Charity sector expertise
  • Mergers and acquisitions experience
  • Conflict management
  • Communications
  • Drafting contracts
  • Commercial law expertise

Custom

  • Yoga
  • Cycling
  • Theatre
  • Travel

Timeline

CEO

Gingerbread
02.2019 - 12.2024

Director of Legal & Governance, Company Secretary and Data Protection Officer

Macmillan Cancer Support
09.2006 - 12.2018

Senior Associate, Company Commercial Department

Charles Russell
09.2001 - 09.2006

Assistant Solicitor in Company Commercial Team

Bristows
09.1997 - 09.2001

Trainee/Associate in the Corporate Team

Slaughter and May
09.1993 - 09.1997

MSc - Charity Management

O' levels, 3 A' Levels - Economics A, History A, Geography A

West Bridgford School

LLB (Hons) -

Birmingham University

Law Society Finals -

College of Law, Chester

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Victoria Benson