A global network of hundreds of businesses focused on addressing disability exclusion in the workplace has appointed former chief executive of Scope Mark Hodgkinson to lead its board.

Hodgkinson, who led disability charity Scope for seven years until earlier this year, has been named chair of The Valuable 500.

This commits firms to promote disability inclusion at work and includes Adobe, Yahoo!, Zurich, West Ham Utd, Virgin Money, Unilever and Tesco among its members.

The group says that Hodgkinson’s “focus on the systemic challenges facing disabled people, combined with a proven record of organisational leadership and advocacy, makes him well-placed to guide The Valuable 500 into its next phase of impact”.

Valuable 500 chief executive Katy Talikowska added that “his passion for disability inclusion, and his extensive knowledge make him the ideal person to lead our Foundation Board into this exciting next chapter. I have no doubt that under his leadership, we will continue to grow stronger”.

Before joining Scope Hodgkinson worked in senior roles for businesses including HMV, Asda, Virgin and EMI Music, and spent six years as chief executive of Virgin Money.

Hodgkinson replaces Jeff Dodds, who has been involved with the group since it launched seven years ago.

“As we look ahead, I'm delighted to be handing over the role of Chair to Mark Hodgkinson. Mark has done an exceptional job as Chief Executive of Scope over the past seven years, and I've had the privilege of working closely with him over that time,” added Dodds who is chief executive of electric car championship Formula E.

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