Surrey-based maritime charity The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society has appointed former Royal Navy captain David Dominy as its chief executive succeeding commander Brian Boxall-Hunt who was the Society’s chief executive for 17 years.

Dominy will lead the Society, including its residential and nursing care home Belvedere House, which provides nursing care for up to 68 former seafarers, their dependants, veterans, and the local community, including those living with dementia.

Dominy spent 36 years in the Royal Navy and has experience of coaching and mentoring team members and in working across national, cultural and ideological boundaries.

He has experience of policy, strategy, and force development in the higher management of defence. He served with the Ministry of Defence, and NATO HQ Allied Command Transformation. He also served as naval assistant to the First Sea Lord and as director of operational sea training. At one point he served with the US Navy in the Pentagon and was awarded the US Meritorious Service Medal.

Dominy said: “There has been some brilliant work going on at the Society including the completion of a modernisation programme. The new state-of-the-art facilities will undoubtedly enhance our ability to continue to provide exceptional care. I have been particularly impressed with our provision of care to those living with dementia and our provision of respite care.

“I am looking forward to helping shape the future of the Society and the care home Belvedere House, working closely with the highly experienced care team and board of trustees to continue to place seafarers, the broader maritime community and our local community at the heart of everything we do. I am immensely proud to be leading an organisation that invests in people, not in profit to deliver high-quality care and maintain a safe haven for our beneficiaries.”