The board of Destination Plymouth, chaired by Adrian Vinken CBE, has expressed their thanks and appreciation to outgoing Chief Executive Charles Hackett as he steps down from his role.

Charles joined Mayflower 400 and Destination Plymouth in late 2016 and over the past five years has worked tirelessly to lead the organisation, bringing together a strong partnership to deliver the Mayflower 400 programme, and creating a lasting legacy of partnership working within the city.

Mr Hackett will be stepping down from his role as Chief Executive of Mayflower 400 and Destination Plymouth in March following the finalisation of the five year transformative programme for Plymouth.

Despite being impacted by the pandemic, under Charles’ leadership the Mayflower 400 programme engaged with over 1.3 million people, both in-person and digitally. It helped to bring more than 5.3 million visitors to Plymouth before the pandemic’s impact was felt, and led to media coverage worth over £280 million.

Adrian Vinken CBE, Chair of Destination Plymouth and the Mayflower 400 Partnership said: “On behalf of the Destination Plymouth board and the wider international Mayflower 400 partnership I would like to thank Charles for his truly exceptional leadership. Charles has not only developed the programme and led its successful delivery, but has also developed lasting partnerships across Plymouth and the other Mayflower 400 destinations, which remain as a positive legacy to his commitment and passion. As the Mayflower 400 programme comes to a close we are sorry to be saying farewell to Charles and wish him the very best of luck in his next venture which, I have no doubt, will be a success.”

Councillor Nick Kelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council said: “As a city we should be incredibly proud of what Mayflower 400 has achieved, and I’d like to thank Charles for his role in helping us to reach these successes. From engaging school children to businesses, Mayflower 400 has touched and benefitted many people in Plymouth and further afield over the past 5 years, and none of this would have been possible without the work of Charles and the Mayflower 400 team.”

Other highlights of the Mayflower 400 programme in Plymouth include:

  • 400 local people signed up to volunteer as Mayflower Makers, and contributed around 7,000 hours of their time to support the commemorative activities and events
  • The Box opening to significant acclaim, with 75 per cent of reviews rating it as good or excellent
  • Almost 40,000 tickets sold for the Mayflower 400: Legend and Legacy exhibition at The Box
  • 50,000 visitors attended Illuminate in 2019, with over 400,000 reached online
  • 48,000 people in Plymouth  were engaged in grassroots activity throughout the city thanks to 50 organisations commissioned through Mayflower 400 Community Sparks
  • 8,700 residents participated in the Mayflower sports programme during 2020/21
  • The Hatchling, by Trigger Productions, attracted around 25,500 visitors and created media coverage worth £10million
  • Every state primary and secondary school in Plymouth signed up to at least one Mayflower 400 activity

Councillor Tudor Evans, Shadow Leader of Plymouth City Council said: “I would like to express my thanks to Charles, I was part of the team that brought him to Plymouth, and I’m so glad that we did. Mayflower 400 offered incredible opportunities for Plymouth, and having seen the opening of the Box, over 40,000 visitors to the Mayflower 400: Legend and Legacy exhibition, and so much positive press coverage for Plymouth across the globe, there can be no doubt that what was achieved has put Plymouth on the map.”

Charles Hackett, outgoing Chief Executive of Mayflower 400 and Destination Plymouth said: “Plymouth, and its partners across the UK, US and Netherlands, achieved great things through the Mayflower 400 programme, of which many people can be proud. I am so grateful to everyone who partnered, supported and got involved, and I’m grateful to have played my part in leading a programme that has inspired challenged and engaged so many people.”

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