Confusion over who will take over Serving Our People’s chief executive role from Yas Matbouly
A prominent Gold Coast charity officially named a new chief executive before deciding to publicly advertise for the position just days later.
A prominent Gold Coast charity officially named a new chief executive before deciding to publicly advertise for the position just days later.
The confusion around who will take over the reins at Serving Our People Inc from founder, president and chief executive Yas Daniel Matbouly comes in the wake of the resignation of two of the organisation’s four board members.
After five years at the helm, Mr Matbouly said he had decided to step down from the role of chief executive.
The organisation operates a range of philanthropic programs in the community, including emergency relief and supporting households and people impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.
Its website says it is supported by more than 7000 volunteers across Queensland and New South Wales and has helped millions of people since it was founded in March 2020.
Mr Matbouly said a media release sent out last week naming the charity’s chief marketing officer Brigid Davey as chief executive was “not finalised”.
The Bulletin understands Ms Davey did not accept the offer of the role and she is no longer at the organisation.
A second media release sent out on Tuesday named another person as the new chief executive.
But Mr Matbouly on Friday described both appointments as “interim” chief executives and said the charity’s new board had decided the best path forward for the organisation was to seek an external candidate for the position.
He said he had put his heart and soul into the charity for five years.
“My family wants me to go into for profit business and I’ve given my service to the community and everything else for five years,” he said.
“I’m not saying I’m going to stop philanthropy.
“It’s a decision that I’ve made that I want to move to a for-profit business.”
Mr Matbouly said the organisation’s new board had decided the best thing to do was form an independent committee and seek an external candidate for the position of chief executive, with the external committee to bring a selection of candidates to the board for consideration.
The position will be publicly advertised on Seek and Ethical Jobs, he said.
“That is the best and fairest and equitable and right thing to do, being a not-for-profit.”
Mr Matbouly said he could not disclose who was currently secretary and treasurer of the board, as he wished to make a “proper announcement” at a later date.
In a statement, Mr Matbouly also said Serving Our People was aware of recent commentary that had been circulated following the resignation of former board members.
“As an ACNC-registered public benevolent institution, all financials, reporting measures, and governance structures are independently reviewed, externally audited by a third party, and fully compliant with ACNC Standards 1–6,” he said.
“We want to reassure that Serving Our People remains financially stable, operationally strong, and governed through robust executive oversight and independent verification, with our audited reporting available publicly at the end of December.”
Mr Matbouly said the charity’s service delivery, community programs and commitments continue to serve “those who need us during those hard times”.
“The institution is very important for the millions of lives across Queensland and New South Wales,” he said.
“Serving Our People looks forward to continuing our work with complete transparency and looking after Gold Coasters and our fellow Australians.”
Mr Matbouly said his focus was now on the upcoming annual general meeting, and helping with homeless lunches over the Christmas period.
Founded in 2020, the organisation said it had become a national network with more than 7000 volunteers and has delivered more than $9.9m in direct community support and $59.8m worth of volunteer hours since its establishment.
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Originally published as Confusion over who will take over Serving Our People’s chief executive role from Yas Matbouly
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