A health charity has appointed a new leader following the retirement of its founding chief executive.
Jonathan Pearce took over as chief executive of the York-based charity Antibiotic Research UK this week.
He has worked in the charity sector for 20 years, and previously led voluntary organisations including Lymphoma Action and the blood cancer charity DKMS.
Pearce succeeds Colin Garner, who founded Antibiotic Research UK in 2014 and retired in July.
Income at Antibiotic Research UK has grown steadily over the past five years, from £235,000 in the year ending in December 2016 to £445,000 in 2020, according to the latest filings with the Charity Commission.
Pearce said: “I have come to appreciate that tackling antibiotic resistance is one of the most urgent global health challenges of our time.
“I look forward to meeting all the incredible partners, volunteers, fundraisers, advocates and patients and their families involved in the work of this amazing charity.”
The charity has funded nearly 20 research programmes since 2014, it said in a statement.