Hitan Mehta OBE appointed as Chief Executive of the British Asian Trust

British Asian Trust Announces Appointment of Hitan Mehta OBE as Chief Executive succeeding Richard Hawkes OBE

The Board of Trustees of the British Asian Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Hitan Mehta OBE as its new Chief Executive. Hitan succeeds Richard Hawkes OBE, who has stepped down after 10 years of transformative leadership.

The Board extends its sincere thanks to Richard for his decade of service. Under his leadership, the British Asian Trust has significantly expanded its scale and impact, improving the lives of more than 18 million people across South Asia. The Board wishes him every success in the future.

Hitan Mehta played a pivotal role in establishing the British Asian Trust in 2007 as its first-ever employee. Over the past 18 years, he has worked closely with His Majesty King Charles III, including previously as The Prince of Wales. As a long-standing member of the British Asian Trust's senior leadership, he has worked side by side with Richard Hawkes to grow the organisation into one of the most respected and innovative international charities working across South Asia.

Throughout his tenure, Hitan has been central to the British Asian Trust’s global expansion, helping shape its growth across the UK, South Asia, the Gulf, and most recently North America. He has led the Trust’s efforts to deepen engagement with the global South Asian diaspora, building influential networks across philanthropy, finance and business to strengthen the Trust's mission worldwide.

Richard Hawkes commented: "After an amazing 10 years at the British Asian Trust, now is the right moment for me to explore new challenges and pass on the baton to Hitan, who I have worked with closely for the last decade. I would like to thank the Board for the privilege of being CEO and wish the organisation every success in the future".

Hitan Mehta expressed his reflections on the appointment: “It is an honour to step into this role at such a pivotal moment for the British Asian Trust. As we enter an important period of global and UK diaspora engagement, I am deeply grateful to our Trustees, our Royal Founding Patron, and our valued partners and supporters for their continued confidence in our mission. I would also like to acknowledge Richard for his contribution over the past decade. It has been great to work alongside him; his dedication and commitment to impact have helped grow the organisation. I am committed to building on the strong foundations that we have created. Together with our exceptional team, I look forward to advancing our global footprint, driving innovation, and continuing to deliver meaningful and lasting change for communities across South Asia.”

Lord Jitesh Gadhia, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said: “As a founding leader of the British Asian Trust, Hitan has shaped the organisation’s values, networks and global impact from its earliest days. His deep knowledge of South Asia, his credibility across international philanthropy, and his trusted relationships within the British Asian community make him uniquely placed to guide the Trust into its next chapter, building on Richard’s decade of transformational leadership.”