New chief executive announced for Chichester-based homelessness charity
Homelessness charity Stonepillow, based in Chichester, has announced the appointment of David Francis as its new chief executive.
David joins Stonepillow, which works across West Sussex, after previous CEO Hilary Bartle, who held the role for eight years, stepped down to relocate to Yorkshire at the end of last month.
David's career spans housing, homelessness and place-based service delivery across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
He was previously director of the West London Alliance, where he led a partnership of seven London boroughs delivering programmes and services across housing and health, employment, skills and digital inclusion. For over nine years David was also a non-executive director at the homelessness charity Broadway, which is now part of St Mungo's.
David said: “I am excited to join Stonepillow as the new CEO. The extent of homelessness in the 1990s drew me into public service and has been a driving force in my career since. Stonepillow's purpose and ambition around delivering for and with its clients resonates with me and I look forward to working with the trustees, staff, volunteers and partners, to build on its excellent track record of preventing homelessness and restoring lives across West Sussex."
Announcing the appointment, Chair of trustees Olivia Pinkney said: "The trustees are delighted to welcome David and to have him lead Stonepillow into our next chapter. As part of the selection process, David impressed all who met him - clients, staff and partners. He brings a wealth of experience in the delivery of homelessness services as well as the commissioning of contracts, coupled with being a trustee and volunteer himself. I am looking forward to working with David in the years to come."
David joins Stonepillow on April 1. 2026.
Prior to the West London Alliance, David was a senior civil servant at the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, working on policy and programmes to increase housing supply and support homeownership,
Earlier in his career David was head of development for a large housing association focussed on delivering affordable homes in East London and Essex.