A New Chapter for Be United: Be United Announces New CEO as Emma Sithole Steps Down

Today, we’re sharing one of the biggest announcements in Be United’s journey so far.

After more than a decade of dedication, vision, and leadership, our founder Emma Sithole has formally stepped down from her role as CEO following her maternity leave affective May 1, 2026.

This is truly the end of an era for Be United.

From the very beginning, including Be United obtaining charitable status in 2014, Emma has played an instrumental role in shaping the organisation, building its foundations, and creating opportunities and advocacy for Black creatives across Scotland. Her years of continuous work, care, and commitment have helped make Be United what it is today, and we are deeply grateful for everything she has given to this organisation and community over the years. 💛

At the same time, this moment also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. 🌿

We are incredibly pleased to share that Muse Greenwood has now officially accepted the permanent role of CEO of Be United. 🎉 

As Muse shared:

“It has been a real honour to have both Emma’s and the Board’s trust in my ability to continue building on the incredible work she and the BU team have achieved over the years. I’m deeply grateful for the foundation that has been created and for the continued support of funders like Creative Scotland , the City of Edinburgh Council, the Regenerative Futures Fund, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and The Robertson Trust, whose belief in Be United’s vision has helped make so much of this work possible.

This next chapter feels both exciting and important for us as an organisation. We are continuing to grow our programmes, deepen partnerships, and expand opportunities for Black creatives across Scotland, and I’m genuinely excited for what lies ahead.”

📸 Muse Greenwood and Emma Sithole.

With more sustained support and exciting developments on the horizon, we are entering a period of growth! The growth that would not have been possible without both the foundation Emma built and the energy, ideas, and leadership Muse brings into this role.

We’ll soon be sharing something very special that celebrates Emma’s incredible journey and impact, as well as the story of Be United so far, reflecting on how far we’ve come, the community we’ve built, and the mission that continues to guide us into the future.