A new leadership team is bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to our Association after the election of a new Chair and the appointment of a new Chief Executive.
Over the summer, Major General John Crackett retired from the role of Chair after providing the Association with a successful five years of leadership and support.
Taking over as Association Chair is Colonel Francis Acton. With knowledge and experience from an extensive Army career – in both the Regular and Reserve Forces – he will provide key guidance whilst overseeing our Association’s strategic direction.
Over 30 years of military experience
Francis’ Army career began after he commissioned into the Grenadier Guards, serving principally with the 2nd Battalion at Caterham Barracks but also including a UN tour to Cambodia.
Further key positions included mobilisation with the Regular Reserve to Bosnia and full-time service as a staff officer in HQ 143 (West Midland) Brigade and HQ 5th Division in Shrewsbury.
As a Reservist he was appointed as B (Shropshire Yeomanry) Squadron Leader and later Commanding Officer of the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry in Telford. His tours saw him responsible for the deployment of a significant number of Yeomen to Iraq and Afghanistan.
As a Colonel he served as Deputy Commander HQ Wales (where he was an active Board member for RFCA for Wales), and in a key role in the Reserves Directorate in Army HQ.
Alongside his Reserve career Francis held a full-time civilian senior management post in the MOD as a member of the Surgeon General’s personnel staff at Lichfield until 2022. Since then he has been more heavily involved in managing his family’s historic house, heritage farm and rural estate at Acton Scott in South Shropshire.
Sharing his thoughts on taking up the role of Chair, Francis commented: “I am most grateful to the membership of West Midland RFCA for giving me this opportunity to lead the promotion and support of the Armed Forces and Cadet Forces in this area and I hope I can bring especially my Reservist and civilian experience to bear to help meet our future challenges.”
From Army family to the General Staff
The Association’s second major change to the senior leadership team was the arrival of new Chief Executive, Brigadier (Retired) Andy Moffat OBE, taking up the role from predecessor Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hopkins.
Brigadier Moffat has an equally extensive military background and comes from an Army family. Harnessing his strong leadership skills and experience he will drive forward the Association’s aims and ambitions in support of the wider MOD objectives, ensuring that the region’s Reserve Forces and Cadets are well supported.
Andy’s role also ensures that West Midland RFCA’s three core functions – estates management, Cadets and youth, and employer engagement – are delivered effectively by staff and available resources.
A succession of Regimental duties and staff appointments formed Andy’s early military service within the transport Regiments; 5 Airborne Brigade; 101 Logistic Brigade; and 1(UK) Armoured Division.
This was followed by command tours of a Tank Transporter Squadron and 12 Logistic Support Regiment. He also led the Logistic Ops and Plans team in the Defence Crisis Management Organisation, before leaving the MOD to join the DE&S’ Logistic Delivery Operating Centre as head of British Forces Post Office and the UK’s secure global distribution network.
On promotion to Brigadier he assumed the appointment of DCOS Support in HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and followed that up as DCOS Field Army. Andy has deployed operational experience from the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Afghanistan and with the UN.
Since leaving the Army he has been the Managing Director of Operations for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Andy said: “I was largely unaware of the tremendous work that the RFCA’s conduct in support of Reserve Forces and the amazingly inspiring Cadet movement.
“Since arriving in post I have been impressed with the commitment of our people in delivering the best possible support they can under difficult resource conditions. This is an organisation full of good people doing important and rewarding work. I look forward to helping the organisation continue its long tradition of linking and supporting Defence and society.”
West Midland RFCA is responsible for supporting the Reserve Forces and Cadets from the three services, across the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire counties.
Learn more about our key functions and how West Midland RFCA supports the region’s Reserve Forces and Cadets.
Published 01/10/25
