Welcoming David Annand | Head of Operations and Fundraising at Adopt A Grandparent

We’re delighted to welcome David Annand as our new Head of Operations and Fundraising here at Adopt A Grandparent.

With extensive experience across both the commercial and social change sectors, David brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and leadership that will help us expand our reach, strengthen partnerships, and continue driving our mission to combat loneliness among older people.

David’s career started in sales operations and marketing, where he held senior roles at international brands including Revlon and Playtex. But in 2011, while working as Head of Marketing for Zoggs, David was diagnosed with prostate cancer. This life-changing experience led him to become a volunteer ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK, where he spent five years raising awareness and supporting others. 

It was during this time that David made the decision to dedicate his career to the social change sector, moving into fundraising for local charities. His first role was with Transform Housing & Support, a Surrey-based homelessness charity, where he spent three years before his career took another deeply personal turn. When his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, David became an unpaid carer, giving him first-hand insight into the challenges faced by older people experiencing loneliness and isolation.

 Determined to use his experience to make a difference, he went on to join Crossroads Care Surrey, a charity supporting unpaid carers, where he led fundraising efforts for another three years. Now, he’s bringing that expertise and passion to AAG, helping us grow and evolve to support even more older adults in need of meaningful connection.

Speaking about his new role, David shared:

"Being an unpaid carer for my father, I fully appreciate the damaging effects of loneliness, particularly for older people. What AAG does to alleviate this is extraordinary, and I’m immensely proud to be part of it. The opportunity to expand the charity’s reach and connect even more volunteers with older people is what excites me the most. My priority is to strengthen partnerships with care service providers, ensuring that we can offer meaningful companionship to more older people who need it. For me, fundraising follows awareness – by working closely with more care providers, we can amplify our mission, attract wider support, and build a sustainable future for AAG."

David’s arrival comes at an exciting time for AAG, as we continue to build our network of volunteers, care providers, and corporate supporters.

Our Founder and CEO, Shaleeza Hasham, is equally thrilled about the impact David will have:

"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome David to Adopt A Grandparent. His passion for social change, combined with his deep understanding of the challenges faced by older people, makes him the perfect person to lead our operations and fundraising. His dedication to improving the lives of older adults and carers aligns perfectly with our mission, and I have no doubt that he will play a huge role in expanding our impact – he has already hit the ground running in his first few weeks! We are so grateful to have him on board."

Looking ahead, David has one clear vision:

"I want AAG to be recognised by everyone, so that people not only know who we are but also value what we offer. Everything else – our partnerships, fundraising, and growth – can and will flourish from there."

At Adopt A Grandparent, we match older people with volunteers who share similar interests, providing invaluable opportunities for companionship, shared experiences, and emotional support. Through our secure platform, these pairings engage in regular video and audio calls, allowing them to form deep connections despite physical distance. With thousands of volunteers worldwide, our mission is to reduce loneliness and enhance the quality of life for older adults through meaningful, lasting interactions.

David’s leadership will be instrumental in ensuring that more older people feel valued, heard, and connected – and we couldn’t be happier to have him on the team.