The Association of Medical Research Charities has promoted Nicola Perrin to chief executive.
She will succeed Aisling Burnand, who announced in June she would step aside because of ill-health.
Burnand decided to leave after seven years following a period of extended sick leave that finished at the end of this month.
Perrin, who has been leading the membership body’s policy and public affairs team since May, has been appointed as Burnand’s permanent successor and will take up her new role on 12 November. Hilary Reynolds has been interim chief executive.
Before joining the AMRC, Perrin spent 15 years at the Wellcome Trust, where she also headed the policy team. She was awarded an MBE in the 2020 New Year’s Honours for services to science.
She said: “At such a difficult time for the sector, I am lucky to be able to build on the fantastic legacy of Aisling Burnand’s leadership over the past seven years.
“I am very much looking forward to getting to know all of our member charities when I start and continue the vital work with an amazing team of colleagues.”
John Sharkey, chair of the AMRC, said: “We are delighted to appoint Nicola as CEO at such a pivotal time for science in the UK and in particular medical research charities.
“Her reputation precedes her, and we know she lives up to that and will prove to be both a thoughtful and progressive leader for the sector.”