Oxfam Chief Forced to Step Down amid Bullying Claims

Oxfam GB’s chief executive has been forced out after an independent review found “serious issues” with her behaviour and decision-making.

The charity’s board decided Dr Halima Begum’s position was “untenable” due to an “irretrievable breakdown in its trust and confidence” in her leadership.

Dr Begum had faced accusations of bullying, which allies within the organisation described as “absurd”.

Around 70 members of staff signed a letter calling for Oxfam to investigate her conduct. Several employees reportedly resigned after falling out with her, according to the Times.

Dr Begum had been in the role for almost two years.

In a statement, Oxfam said the review was commissioned by its board of trustees to examine “concerns raised about the leadership, conduct and approach” of Dr Begum.

The review was carried out by legal firm Howlett Brown between November and December 2025, the charity said.

It drew on testimony from 32 current and former colleagues, alongside documentary evidence.

The findings identified “serious issues in the CEO’s leadership behaviour and her decision making, including breaches of organisational processes and values, and inappropriate interference into safeguarding and integrity investigations”.

Oxfam said the decision to discharge Dr Begum from her role was passed last week. She has already left the organisation.

Jan Oldfield, Oxfam’s chief supporter officer for more than four years, will take on the role of acting chief executive.

Acting co-chairs Nana Afadzinu and Dame Annie Hudson said their focus was providing “stability” for staff and “rebuild confidence” across the organisation”.

They added: “The Board has taken immediate steps to strengthen oversight and reinforce organisational processes, and work is already underway to address the recommendations in the report.”

Dr Begum’s departure follows issues for the charity in recent years.

In 2018, it emerged that its staff had sexually exploited victims of the Haiti earthquake in 2010.

Earlier in December 2025, Oxfam reported that profits from its shops had fallen by two-thirds over the past three years.

The Oxford-based organisation also made 250 of its 2,100 UK staff redundant earlier this year. The move aimed to save £10.2 million from its wage bill.

At the time, Dr Begum said the decline reflected the charity operating “against a backdrop of deep uncertainty, rising inflation and a cost-of-living crisis”.