New Secretary General Elected by Mission to Seafarers

The Mission to Seafarers, a Christian organization dedicated to the welfare of maritime workers, has revealed that Peter Rouch will be appointed as its new secretary general.

Rouch is set to take over from Revd Canon Andrew Wright, who is retiring in September after leading the organization for nearly 12 years. The transition process will begin on July 1, allowing Rouch and Wright to work together during the handover period.

Before joining the Mission to Seafarers, Rouch's career included a significant stint at Barclays Bank where he served as an assistant director of finance and strategic planning. Following his time in banking, he pursued ordination within the Church of England, which led to various roles including a curacy in London, a Research Fellowship, a Chaplaincy at Oxford University, and vicar positions in Manchester.

Rouch later became an Archdeacon in the Diocese of Winchester, followed by a consultancy role at Lambeth Palace. He is currently based in Sheffield, serving as the CEO of Church Army UK & Ireland.

Tom Boardley, the chairman of the Mission to Seafarers, expressed gratitude towards the outgoing secretary general, Andrew Wright, for his transformative leadership over the past decade. Boardley also expressed confidence in Rouch's ability to continue the organization's mission of providing crucial support to seafarers worldwide. 

“Our current secretary general, Andrew Wright, has done so much to develop and transform the Mission during his tenure and we owe him a debt of gratitude for his leadership for more than a decade. We are confident that Peter will maintain this momentum and build on our vital role as a leading provider of maritime welfare support for seafarers around the globe,” he said.