Jonathan Ball is CEO of The Royal Marines Charity, which he has grown from a small charitable trust with a handful of staff into a multi-service organization employing more than 30 people. A former Royal Marine, he credits much of his leadership approach to what he calls the "Commando Mindset": being first to understand, first to adapt, and first to respond.
Ball has applied that mindset to help the charity punch above its weight on behalf of the Royal Marines community it serves, steadily increasing the number of beneficiaries it reaches each year. Under his leadership the charity delivered the £2.8 million Gordon Messenger resilience centre in 2020 and has run extensive home-renovation projects for injured veterans, including major adaptations for those with life-changing injuries.
Colleagues describe his leadership as fair, measured, and supportive, built on an exceptional work ethic, attention to detail, and patience in managing complex stakeholder relationships. He has since launched a strategic review aimed at improving service delivery through 2030, with a continued focus on serving beneficiaries over organizational competition.
