The mental health charity Mind has named its new chief executive.
Sarah Hughes will take over at Mind in early 2023, after five years leading the Centre for Mental Health.
Hughes will succeed Paul Farmer, who is moving to become chief executive of Age UK this month.
Mind said that, between October and the new year, the responsibilities of the chief executive would be shared by Sophie Corlett, the charity’s director of external relations, and Paul Ward, its chief operating officer.
Before joining the Centre for Mental Health, Hughes led the Cambridge, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire branch of Mind. She sits on the board of the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership.
Hughes described her appointment as a “huge honour” and said: “We have a bold strategy which builds on our long heritage of strengthening and protecting the human rights of people who experience mental illness.
“Now is the time for a brave step into the challenges we all face, including our commitment to becoming truly anti-racist. We are stronger together.”
Stevie Spring, the chair of trustees at Mind, said: “We are in the midst of a mental health crisis, where the work we do at Mind has never had more importance, particularly amongst those hardest hit by the pandemic.
“Sarah brings with her the vision, authenticity and leadership style we’ll need to continue to meet the challenges ahead.”