Gordon Dow is Chief Executive Officer of the Throat Cancer Foundation and is leading the charity through a period of significant organisational change, strategic development and long-term rebuilding. Having begun his career in accountancy and management, and later building experience across business consultancy, investment and mentoring, he brings a commercially minded, operationally disciplined and strategically focused approach to strengthening organisations and preparing them for growth.
Before becoming CEO, Gordon had already become deeply involved in the Foundation’s development over several years. What began as funding support quickly grew into a far broader role across the organisation’s core functions. He became closely involved in governance, regulatory compliance, trustee reporting, fundraising support, communications, supporter engagement, website and database management, process development, staff oversight and the delivery of long-term projects aimed at strengthening the charity’s profile, reach and sustainability. That hands-on involvement gave him a clear understanding not only of how the organisation operated, but of where it needed to improve, where it needed stronger structure, and where greater leadership was required.
His wider career includes senior management and operational roles linked to major organisations and complex working environments, including NCR, StorageTek, Standard Life and the NHS. He later went on to support smaller and developing businesses through consultancy, investment and practical business improvement. Across those roles he built a reputation for bringing order to complexity, strengthening systems, improving delivery, building senior relationships and helping organisations turn intention into credible action. His experience spans financial management, procurement, service delivery, process design, partnership development and long-term operational planning.
As CEO, Gordon’s focus is on building a stronger, more disciplined and more ambitious Throat Cancer Foundation — one with the leadership, structure, partnerships and financial resilience needed to deliver its goals properly and expand its national influence. He is committed to shaping an organisation that combines compassion with authority, credibility with ambition, and purpose with high standards of execution. His role is not simply to oversee the charity as it is, but to help build the team, systems and strategic direction required to take it much further on behalf of patients, families and the wider public.
