Xavier Brice is leaving Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, the UK’s leading walking, wheeling and cycling charity, this spring after a successful 10 years as CEO.
Xavier Brice.
Brice joined Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, which was previously known as Sustrans, in 2016. During his decade-long tenure, the charity has played a major role in transforming everyday walking, wheeling and cycling for people across the UK.
This included delivering over 500 miles of new and improved routes on the National Cycle Network, launching the Walking and Cycling Index, and clocking nearly one billion walking, scooting and cycling school journeys as part of the annual Big Walk and Wheel challenge.
In 2025, under Brice’s leadership, the charity completed an award-winning rebrand and launched an ambitious new strategy, marking an exciting new chapter in its nearly 50-year history.
Over the next five years, this will see Walk Wheel Cycle Trust connect more communities, link the National Cycle Network with local walking, wheeling and cycling networks across the country, and create a people-powered movement to make change happen.
Tribute from the Chair of Trustees
Moray Macdonald, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust said “On behalf of the Trustees I want to thank Xavier for his leadership over the last decade.
“During his tenure, the charity has improved lives in communities across the UK by making it possible for more people to walk, wheel and cycle.
“Across all four nations Xavier has helped make investment in walking, wheeling and cycling a priority - improving people’s health and wellbeing, the places we live in and travel through, and our wider environment.”
On his time leading the charity, Brice said “16-year-old me would be tickled-pink that I got the chance to lead such a wonderful team transforming how people get about, improving their health and wellbeing, and our world.
“After 10 years leading this brilliant charity, and with a strong new brand and strategy for the future in place, now feels the right time to pass the baton on to somebody else.
“I joined as a supporter and leave an even bigger one. I’m proud of the diversity, passion and commitment of our employees, volunteers, supporters and partners and look forward to seeing Walk Wheel Cycle Trust continue to thrive and connect people with the things that matter to them.”
Interim leadership and next steps
Harry Hayer, a member of the charity’s Executive team, has been named as interim-CEO from mid-April when Brice departs. Recruitment for a permanent CEO will start shortly.
Brice is moving to SLR, a global sustainability consultancy whose purpose is ‘making sustainability happen’, where he will lead the growth of an integrated sustainable built environment business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, helping society create the resilient networks and capability needed for our shared future in a rapidly changing world.
