Terry Duddy, the recently appointed chair of BBC Children in Need, has resigned from a second senior position following his conviction for causing serious injury by careless driving.
The former retail executive stepped down as chair of the welfare charity Catch22, just three days after leaving his role at the BBC charity.
Swift Resignations Follow Court Sentence
The resignations came swiftly after Duddy, 69, received an eight-month suspended custodial sentence at court last week. The sentence, suspended for 18 months, was for an incident that occurred in June in the Buckinghamshire village of Chalfont St Giles.
While driving his BMW SUV, Duddy cut across an oncoming lane and collided with a female cyclist who had the right of way. The cyclist sustained serious injuries in the collision.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the court ordered Duddy to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, pay costs of £272, and handed him an 18-month driving disqualification.
Charities Accept Resignations
Duddy informed both BBC Children in Need and Catch22 of his conviction this week. He offered his resignation from both organisations, which was accepted.
A spokesperson for Catch22 confirmed his resignation, noting he had served as their chair for six and a half years. They praised his "passion, dedication and an unwavering commitment to our cause" during his tenure.
BBC Children in Need announced that trustee James Fairclough has been appointed as the new chair with immediate effect. The charity emphasised that it remains focused on its mission to help children and young people.
Background and Ongoing Roles
Terry Duddy is a prominent business figure, formerly serving as chief executive of Argos and Homebase's parent company. He is credited with inventing the popular click and collect catalogue ordering system.
His appointment as chair of BBC Children in Need was only announced on October 21, making his departure a significant and rapid reversal.
It is believed Duddy remains in his position as chair of London Marathon Events and serves as a trustee of its associated foundation.
