Paul Adams to Step Down as Chief Executive
CMC Leadership Change – Paul Adams to Step Down as Chief Executive
After eight years as Chief Executive of the Civil Mediation Council, Paul Adams will be stepping down this autumn. In the message below, Paul shares his reflections on a period of growth, transformation, and deep commitment to the values of mediation.
He will be succeeded by Victoria Harris, the CMC’s current Deputy CEO, who will formally take up the post on 3 November. Alongside Paul’s message, the CMC’s current and former Chairs have shared their appreciation for his leadership and legacy.
“After eight years as Chief Executive of the Civil Mediation Council, it feels both surreal and deeply satisfying to say that it’s time for me to move on. When I first joined the CMC back in 2017, I couldn’t have imagined quite how much the organisation — and the wider mediation community — would evolve in that time.
I’ve had the privilege of serving under four remarkable Chairs — Sir Alan Ward, Sir David Foskett, Rebecca Clark and Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho — each of whom has brought their own wisdom, energy, and vision to the CMC. Long standing Deputy Chair Tom Thomas, is another without whom CMC would not have thrived as it has. Working alongside them, and with such a passionate and committed membership, has been one of the great privileges of my professional life.
Growth, Change, and a Few “Impossible” Dreams
When I began, the idea of integrating mediation into small claims below £10,000 was seen by some as wildly optimistic — a “pipe dream.” But in 2019, we made it a central goal in our strategy. Fast-forward to today, and it’s government policy. That journey, from ambition to reality, perfectly captures what’s been so special about this sector: our belief that practical, positive change is possible.
Over these eight years, CMC has grown in every sense. Our membership has quadrupled, and our Executive has become a fully professionalised team covering every aspect of the organisation’s work. We’ve amalgamated with the Professional Mediators’ Association (in 2017) and later with the Peer Mediator Network (in 2023), strengthening our voice across the entire mediation landscape — from civil and commercial practice to young people learning to resolve conflict constructively.
The National Mediation Awards has flourished into a celebration of excellence that gets bigger and better every two years, and our annual conference has truly taken off — attendance this year will be double what it was as recently as 2022! And as I step down, the CMC stands on the threshold of chartered status, ready to enter the next stage of its evolution.
I’m also especially proud of how our Board and membership have become more diverse. Rebecca Clark’s appointment as the first female Chair in 2021 marked a real milestone, and that spirit of inclusion now runs right through the organisation.
What I’ve Learned Along the Way
More than anything, I’ve been inspired — constantly — by the passion and dedication of the mediators I’ve met. This is a profession full of people who genuinely care about helping others find understanding and resolution, and that’s something that has never ceased to move me.
I’m proud that, together, we’ve made real progress in professionalising the profession, giving mediation the recognition and structure it deserves. And most importantly, I believe that this progress has delivered a genuine public benefit — staying true to the CMC’s charitable purpose of promoting access to justice and better ways of resolving disputes.
Gratitude and Hope
None of what we’ve achieved would have been possible without the support of our Board, our volunteers, and our members. I’ve learned something from every one of you — and it’s been a privilege to lead such a thoughtful, passionate community.
As I step aside, I couldn’t be more confident about the CMC’s future. Victoria Harris, our Deputy CEO, will be taking over the role. Many of you already know Victoria well — she’s played a vital role in so many of the innovations we’ve introduced in recent years, and her deep understanding of the sector will serve the organisation brilliantly.
The CMC is stronger, more united, and more influential than ever. It’s been a genuine honour to play a part in that journey — and I’ll always remain one of its biggest supporters.
Thank you all for your trust, your partnership, and your belief in mediation’s power to make a difference.”
Paul Adams
Chief Executive, Civil Mediation Council
Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho, CMC Chair:
“Paul’s direction, sense of purpose and candour have been of huge benefit to the CMC and its members over many years now. The CMC has changed a great deal in the 8 years that Paul has been CEO, undoubtedly for the better and thanks to his hard work. Paul has made the CMC ever more professional in its work, and that is a direction that we will very much continue to move towards. Paul has been such a pleasure to work with. We are so grateful for all that you’ve done.”
Rebecca Clark, former CMC Chair:
“I have much to thank Paul for in my capacity as former Chair of the CMC, but even more so as a working mediator. His favourite phrase (at least to me!) of “No dramas”, really sums up his approach – calm and measured with a real drive to get things done. Through this he has shaped a disparate community of mediators into a cohesive profession we can all be proud of. I hope he is proud too – we will miss you, Paul.”
