Becky Hewitt is to step down as chief executive of the disfigurement charity Changing Faces to allow someone with more specialist health experience to take over.
Hewitt, who has been in the role since September 2017, said she had loved her time at the charity but the coronavirus pandemic had caused the organisation to think about the structure it needed for the future, including the leadership skills it needed to prioritise.
She said in a statement that for the next stage of its development, the charity would benefit from a chief executive with more specialist health experience.
Hewitt said she was not planning to take up another role immediately because she wanted to ensure she had the flexibility to support the transition to a new leader.
She also planned to have some time with her family before taking her next step, she said.
Hewitt said that despite the challenges of 2020, Changing Faces was “very fortunate to be in a relatively secure financial position as we begin work on our new strategic plan next year, and it feels like a natural time for me to pass the baton to someone else to lead us through that process”.
She said: “It’s been an incredible journey and I am enormously proud of what we have achieved at Changing Faces and I’m so grateful to all our community, including our volunteers, campaigners and ambassadors, for their support and commitment.
“However sad I will be to say goodbye, I feel strongly this will be the right decision for the future of the charity and [to] continue the incredible progress we have made.”
David Clayton, chair of the charity, said: “Becky has presided over a significant and successful transition at Changing Faces and when she eventually steps down, she will leave the charity with very firm foundations, a strong and motivated team and an expanded profile among our supporters and community.
“The trustees will be working closely with Becky on a smooth transition to our new CEO to lead us through the next stage of our journey.”