Saigon Children’s Charity CIO (‘saigonchildren’) is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr David Appleton as its new Chairman of Trustees. David took up the post at the charity’s recent quarterly meeting on 14th February.
David Appleton will replace Alain Cany, who has stepped down after nine years as Chairman of saigonchildren, and 18 years on the Board of Trustees.

Mr. David Appleton. Photo by : Ike Li / Ike Images
David has been a Trustee of saigonchildren for four years, and as an organiser of the Charity Cycle Adventure, has been a major fundraiser for the charity for more than ten years, raising $600,000 to-date. David is from the UK and has been living in Vietnam for 22 years as Founder and Director of a number of successful businesses focused on technology, outsourcing, marketing and hospitality.
David said: “Saigonchildren is a charity that has long been close to my heart, and I am proud to take on this vital role at such an important time for our work. We are expanding autism education and therapy around Vietnam, as well as increasing our reach to help even more vulnerable children with scholarships, vocational training and counselling – all while continuing to build one new school every five weeks.
My thanks, along with those of the Board of Trustees and the saigonchildren team, go to Alain for his dedication and for what the charity has achieved under his leadership. Alain oversaw a programme of consolidation and growth, the completion of saigonchildren’s 200th school, and accepted the Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister of Vietnam on behalf of saigonchildren in 2018. Alain will remain a strong supporter of the charity, and I am delighted to celebrate this with Alain taking on the honorary title of ‘Chairman Emeritus’.
I look forward to continuing to work with the great team at saigonchildren to improve the lives of young people and their families in Vietnam through education and economic development, ensuring that no child is left behind.”

Alain Cany (left) receiving a gift representing 66,366 children he helped as Chairman of saigonchildren
