DM: Prince Harry hit by charity resignationBut now Harry has been obliged to rethink Sentebale’s strategy for the future and restructure its operations after a second unexpected resignation from the charity in a matter of weeks.
In January, executive chairman and entrepreneur Charles Denton stood down. And now I hear Harper Brown — who was headhunted for the job of country director in Lesotho — has quit to return to Britain.
Last night, Sentebale officials insisted Brown, 50, whose comfortable remuneration package came under the spotlight when it was disclosed that Tory backer Lord Ashcroft had been solicited for a major donation to the charity, was leaving of his own free will.
‘It was his choice to go and he leaves after achieving an awful lot in the three-and-a-half years he has been with us,’ says a spokeswoman.
But his departure is bound to re-open questions about the long-term direction of Sentebale, which Harry set up with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho five years ago.
Details of its funding crisis emerged after the charity’s failure to honour a £30,000 pledge to a children’s home in the mountain kingdom. Local officials wrote to Harry, over Mr Brown’s head, asking the Prince to intervene.
At the same time, charity chiefs were embarrassed when details of Mr Brown’s salary and benefits were disclosed.
