Moorlock has held the position of Interim CEO since April 2023 when founder and former Chief executive Mary Williams OBE retired and stepped down from the role after 29 years. Prior to this, Ross was Chief operating officer at Brake, having joined the charity back in 2017.
Since taking up the reins as interim CEO, Moorlock has overseen a period of significant expansion at Brake. In 2023, the charity grew from 37 employees in January, to 62 in December, with growth across all teams including campaigns, fundraising and operations, but most significantly within the National Road Victim Service. New funding through local Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners in specific regions of the UK has enabled Brake to recruit new caseworkers and regional managers to deliver the service to more road victims, including new services in London (in partnership with TfL and RoadPeace), North Wales, the South West, Derbyshire, West Yorkshire and Warwickshire to name a few. The charity has also welcomed four new trustees to the board, adding experience and expertise to reflect the growth in the charity.
Ross Moorlock meeting with National Highways at their headquarters in Birmingham
As Interim CEO, Moorlock has also overseen the delivery of some of Brake’s biggest annual events and campaigns. In June 2023, Brake’s Kids Walk campaign saw 110,000 children from 720 schools take to the streets to shout out for safe spaces to walk, and in November Road Safety Week reached 18 million people through participation in schools, communities and organisations in one of the biggest campaigns yet. The team at Brake also delivered a series of new research reports on driver behaviour and safe systems through a strategic partnership with AXA UK. Moorlock also played host at the UK Fleet Champions Awards in October, presenting to 230 people from the fleet industry at a glittering ceremony in Leeds.
In November, Brake launched the #Brake5 Challenge for Road Safety Week, with hundreds taking part in a fundraising activity around the number 5 to raise awareness of the five people killed and injured on UK roads every day. Representing the charity and leading by example, Moorlock set himself an epic personal challenge to run and cycle 555 miles during Road Safety Week. He raised over £900 for Brake’s National Road Victim Service by cycling up to 90 miles a day and finishing with a marathon on the final day of the campaign.
Ross Moorlock speaking on a panel at TfL’s Vision Zero summit
Ross Moorlock, CEO of Brake, said: “It’s a real privilege to have been chosen for this role and to lead Brake in what is an exciting new chapter for the charity. I am fortunate to work with a fantastically talented and motivated operational team and board at Brake, and I’m excited about continuing our work together as we grow the scale and impact of our organisation even further. The charity enters 2024 more determined than ever to stop crashes on our roads, reduce harm and support those affected through our National Road Victim Service.
“Partnership and collaboration will play an important part in our success. I look forward to working with the incredible people and organisations who share Brake’s vision for tackling the significant road safety challenges we face as a society. We must now all work together to achieve our shared goal of ending the daily deaths and serious injuries on our roads. We know there is much work to be done and change to be made and we have to make 2024 a year of action and progress."
Deborah Sleightholme, chair of Trustees, added: “Who to appoint as the new Chief executive officer of Brake to lead the charity into a key and significant phase and beyond is not a decision the Board has taken lightly, far from it. We have gone through the right and proper process, looking at the requirements of the role and deliberating, assessing and deciding on the qualities and expertise the charity needs in the person taking up these important reins.
“Ross has shown real leadership, passion and commitment, to the charity, its people, and those who it supports, since accepting the interim position 9 months ago, and long before that too in his role as Chief operating officer. The charity has flourished under his watch, and we have exciting plans for 2024 onwards, as we focus on achieving our aims of stopping crashes, reducing harm and supporting those who need it. The Board is confident Ross is the right person to deliver, and we are looking forward to supporting him in his new role."