The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are replacing the executive director of their Archewell Foundation after just one year. James Holt, the couple’s UK spokesman, is being promoted to the top job, taking over from Catherine St-Laurent, who started as Archewell’s first executive director in April 2020.
Ms St-Laurent, who is launching her own social impact firm supported by and working with Archewell, will now act as senior adviser to the foundation. She was also made Harry and Meghan’s chief of staff last year, but no details have been released as to who will fill this role.
Mr Holt will lead the Archewell Foundation’s mission to “uplift and unite communities through acts of compassion”. Following his move, it is not yet known whether the couple will have a press spokesperson based in the UK in the future. Toya Holness, Archewell’s global press secretary, will handle UK media from California.
Harry and Meghan have also appointed a new head of content – producer Ben Browning, who will oversee audio and production for the Sussexes’ multimillion-pound Netflix and Spotify deals. Mr Browning has been nominated for an Oscar, Bafta, PGA Award, and Golden Globe for co-producing the film Promising Young Woman. He described joining Archewell as “thrilling”.
In addition, Invisible Hand, a social impact agency founded by Genevieve Roth, has joined Archewell to focus on strategic change through storytelling and community building in support of gender and racial equity.
