Southdown Welcomes New Chief Operating Officer, Matt Gough

Posted on 15 January 2025

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Matt Gough as Southdown’s new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Bringing a wealth of experience and a shared passion with our mission, Matt joins us at a pivotal time as we’re developing our five-year Business Strategy to help us be there for more people across Sussex.

As COO, Matt will focus on delivering operational excellence, ensuring that our services are psychologically informed, high-performing, and rooted in our values. As part of our senior C-suite leadership team, he will also play a pivotal role in shaping and developing Southdown’s strategic direction.

Matt’s career journey reflects a strong foundation in people-focused leadership. Beginning in private sector facilities management, he then moved to a frontline role as an RSPCA Inspector, where he gained invaluable experience in empowering individuals to achieve the best outcomes. Over the years, Matt progressed through operational management roles, leading geographically dispersed teams and tackling challenging responsibilities.

Most recently, Matt served as Head of Operations at the Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare. There, he led the redesign of operational services, spearheaded innovative projects, and built strategic partnerships to strengthen the charity’s impact on animal welfare.

Reflecting on his appointment, Matt shared: “I was fortunate to spend time with Southdown in 2023 and was inspired by the passion, commitment and expertise of the team. When the COO role became available, it felt like the perfect opportunity to bring my experience from a different part of the non-profit world into an organisation making meaningful difference. I’m a strong advocate for person-centred community support and am excited to contribute to Southdown’s ongoing role as a force for good.”

Matt added, “I firmly believe that supporting and empowering colleagues is essential to fostering a high-performing and fulfilling workplace culture. By prioritising meaningful collaboration and engagement, we can deliver truly impactful services for our clients and tenants. As The VCSE sector faces financially challenging times with rising costs and funding cuts, resilience, tenacity, and creative solutions will be critical to navigating these obstacles and ensuring continued delivery of invaluable support.”