Kirstie Donnelly

Kirstie Donnelly is the Chief Executive Officer of City & Guilds, a vocational training body. She is currently newsworthy due to a scandal involving large executive bonuses paid out after the sale of City & Guilds' qualification awards business. These bonuses, including a reported £1.7 million award for Donnelly, have triggered a statutory inquiry by the Charity Commission. The inquiry is focused on the circumstances surrounding the sale and the subsequent payments to executives. As a result of the controversy, Donnelly, along with the Chief Financial Officer, Abid Ismail, has been placed on leave. The situation is significant because it raises questions about governance, financial management, and ethical conduct within a prominent charity and training organization, potentially impacting its reputation and future operations.