Leadership
Published: September 22, 2023 | Updated: 21st September 2023
Stef Nienaltowski has announced his intentions to retire from his role as CEO of Shaping Portsmouth in the new year.
Over his seven years in office Stef has made big strides for the not-for-profit organisation, which forms partnerships and programmes to help make Portsmouth an attractive location for living, learning, working, visiting and investing.
He’ll step down following the annual Shaping Portsmouth Conference at The Guildhall in January 2024.
“It’s been the greatest privilege of my entire working life to have worked for and led this wonderful organisation”, said Stef.
“From 2013 when I first volunteered to join the then called Business & Enterprise programme, to January 2017 when I began my current journey as leader, the people I have worked with have been truly remarkable.
“Our staff and directors past and present and the wonderful volunteers have made Shaping what it is today, and I know it will continue its upward path.”
Shaping Portsmouth currently runs 16 programmes across the city, with 67 businesses signed up as patrons, partners and associates.
New appointments in recent months have included Sam McGrath, Matt Farmer and Marian Oshodi-Glover, backed by a team of 180 volunteers supporting the organisation.
That includes the dedicated board of non-executive directors, who are now on the hunt for a ‘dynamic, enthusiastic and inspiring CEO to be the public face of their programmes and lead the organisation’s sustainable growth’, working three days a week.
“I believe the time is right for someone with new ideas and energy to come in and lead this quite brilliant team”, said Stef.
“I want to say the deepest and most heartfelt thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the success this city has had over the past seven years and I look forward with pride and confidence as to what the future will bring.”
Simon Barrable
Co-Chairs Simon Barrable and Mark Waldron added: “We’d like to put on record our thanks to Stef for the incredible job he’s done in transforming Shaping Portsmouth since taking the helm in 2017.
“The organisation is now embedded in the heart of our proud waterfront city, driven forward by a talented team, a committed board of directors, a passionate army of volunteers and a growing band of patrons, partners and associates.
“Although we’ll be sad to see Stef step down after next year’s conference, his decision to retire opens up an amazing opportunity for someone to take forward what is now a really strong organisation, driving the Shaping Portsmouth strategy and piloting a course for even greater success as its dynamic new CEO.”
