New MS Society Chairman

 Hilary Sears has now officially taken up her post as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the MS Society.

She began her duties on 1 January, taking over from Stuart Nixon, who has been acting up to the role since Tony Kennan stood down as Chairman at the charity's AGM in September.

Hilary is a senior business professional, with a background in marketing and business development, and in diversity and governance issues. She has extensive experience working with membership organisations, including the Association of MBAs, which she chaired for several years. She is also currently Chairman of KIDS, the charity working with disabled children, young people and their families.

Hilary's personal connection to the cause is that her father, Clifford, was diagnosed with MS in the early 1980s, only to be told eight years later that he was in fact living with a condition called Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy. The condition affects the part of the brain which controls movement, and can present similar symptoms to MS.

Read Hilary's blog, written when she was appointed to the role in August.