Peter Robbins has announced that he will step down as Chief Executive of the Internet Watch Foundation in July. He has held the post since 2002.

In his time at the IWF Peter transformed the organisation, expanding its funding base and securing annual revenues around five times those the IWF has on his appointment. He led the organisation through the controversial adoption and roll-out of the URL based blocking service, commonly known as “Cleanfeed”, and gave the IWF an internationally prominent profile in Internet governance circles.

On behalf of the IWF Board, I would like to thank Peter for all his hard work. He has provided clear and steady leadership to the IWF for many years and overseen our considerable growth into the successful and respected body we now are. We are immensely grateful and wish him every success in the future.— Eve Saloman, Chair of the IWF Board

The advance notice gives the Board time to conduct executive search.

Peter was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2001 for distinguished police service, and an OBE in 2008 for services to children and families.