A former senior vice president of Volvo has become the new chairman of the RNLI.

Charles Hunter-Pease worked for Volvo from 1973 until retiring in 2007. He became Senior Vice President of Volvo Car Corporation in Gothenburg in 1993 and acted as the Senior Adviser to the Management Team of Volvo Car Corporation from 1999 onwards. For over 20 years, he used his management and business expertise as a volunteer, serving on various RNLI committees including fundraising, resources, remuneration, membership nomination and property, and has chaired the group leading the continuous improvement programme for the past three years.
                                                                                         
The ex-Volvo chief’s first duty as RNLI Chairman is to participate in the naming of one of the charity’s newest class of lifeboat, the Shannon. The Jock and Annie Slater is the first Shannon class to enter active service and will take up a place in the RNLI’s relief fleet after the ceremony at the RNLI College in Poole on 11 July.