The NSPCC has appointed the former acting chief executive of the youth charity Impetus as its director of strategy and knowledge.
Maria Neophytou, who has been director of public affairs at Impetus for the past four years, was interim head of the charity from July to October.
The NSPCC said Neophytou had 20 years’ experience in public affairs, research and strategy development and a “strong track record of campaigning for social change and influencing government policy and funding”.
Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said Neophytou had been instrumental in building some of the most recent positive developments for children, such as the Youth Endowment Fund and the National Tutoring Programme.
“She brings a huge amount of experience to help us in our fight for every childhood,” he said.
Neophytou said it was a vital time to be joining the charity.
“It is a huge honour to be leading the new strategy and knowledge directorate, and I can’t wait to get to work,” she said.
Neophytou will join the NSPCC this month.