Former CEO accuses Captain Tom’s daughter of self-interest amid charity Commission findings

The former chief executive of the Captain Tom Foundation has broken his silence, expressing shock and disappointment over the charity’s practices. Jack Gilbert, a seasoned charity professional, uncovered what he described as “deeply unethical” behaviour, including financial dealings that seemed to prioritise personal gain over charitable purposes.

Gilbert’s revelations come after a damning report from the Charity Commission, which concluded that Hannah Ingram-Moore, Captain Sir Tom Moore’s daughter, and her husband Colin had financially benefited from their involvement with the charity. This includes a £1.4 million book deal whose proceeds went to a family-run company instead of the foundation.

In his first interview, Gilbert shared his experiences after taking over as CEO from Ingram-Moore. “When I came in, I must admit, I was gobsmacked,” he told the BBC. “I was shocked at the number of systems that just did not accord with best practice.”

Gilbert, who led the foundation for five months before it was effectively shut down due to the investigation, described discovering irregularities when reviewing the charity’s financial records. He pointed to an incident involving Virgin Media O2, where Ingram-Moore was paid £18,000 for a speaking appearance during her tenure as CEO. The Charity Commission disputed her claim that the engagement was a personal matter, noting the charity received only £2,000 from the event.

“It is very unusual, unheard of, for the charity not to benefit from activities you’ve done during your working day,” said Gilbert, calling the arrangement “deeply unethical.”

The findings have cast a shadow over the legacy of Captain Sir Tom Moore, the World War Two veteran who inspired the nation in 2020 by raising millions for NHS charities during the pandemic. The foundation established in his name has faced scrutiny since his death in 2021, with the Charity Commission launching an inquiry shortly thereafter.

Gilbert described his efforts to bring the charity up to “trusted charity” status, a process that highlighted significant gaps in governance. “Although we had done many [requirements], there were lots of key practices that simply were not in place,” he said.

One such discovery was a cancelled invoice to Virgin Media, which raised further concerns about financial transparency. Gilbert shared his findings with the charity’s chair, who reported them to the board.

In response to the Charity Commission’s report, Ingram-Moore has yet to comment publicly. The findings have renewed public debate over the governance of charitable organisations and the need for stricter regulations to ensure funds are used appropriately.

As the foundation remains under scrutiny, questions linger over whether its mission can recover from the controversy. Gilbert, however, remains adamant that charity work should always serve the public good, not private interests.