A Message from Martin

Two weeks ago, I took responsibility for where we have fallen short. That commitment stands. Here is where things stand.

These past weeks have been uncomfortable, and they should have been. I have spent them listening, to colleagues past and present, and to people who care about what ARMEDANGELS is meant to stand for. Some of what I heard was hard to sit with. It was also necessary.

I want to be honest about one thing in particular. At its core, the criticism was about leadership, how decisions were made, how people were treated, and how consistently we lived the values we ask of everyone else. As we grew, I did not always get that right. That is on me, and it is the part I am most determined to change.

We are not doing this quietly or alone. Together with an independent external review, we are focused on four priorities:

• Making sure our values are lived, not just stated.
• Strengthening leadership, feedback and accountability.
• Building trust through clearer responsibilities and better collaboration.
• Turning reflection into measurable action.
  
  This work is already underway. Progress is not something we announce, it is something we demonstrate. You will see it in how we work, in the decisions we make, and in what we choose to do next.
  
  ARMEDANGELS would not exist without the people who have supported us, challenged us and believed in what we stand for. Our employees, our customers, our partners and our wider community have always expected more from us, and they should. Those expectations matter, and they help us become better.
  
  These weeks have also left me with questions that don't have simple answers. How do you grow without losing your values? How do you hold ambition without creating unnecessary pressure? How do you balance a company's expectations with those of the people who make them possible? These aren't only our questions, they belong to our whole industry. I don't believe they should be answered with a press line, and I don't believe they should be answered alone. They are worth sitting with, openly. In the weeks ahead, we will continue these conversations.
  
  Responsibility does not end with recognising where we have fallen short. It begins with the commitment to do better and to keep showing you, not telling you, that we mean it.
  
  Martin Höfeler Founder & CEO, ARMEDANGELS