Longfield Community Hospice has appointed Clare Davis as its next chief executive.
Davis, who will join in November from the same position at the health and wellbeing charity Pets as Therapy, succeeds Simon Bernstein, who is retiring after four years in the role.
Before joining Pets as Therapy, Davis was director of the consultancy The Solution Shed and previously worked for organisations including Meningitis Now, Sandwell Children’s Trust and the UK Atomic Energy Authority.
Longfield provides hospice at home care to people with life-limiting conditions and wellbeing services from its base in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire. It runs a network of 20 shops across the county.
Davis said: “I have long admired the work of Longfield Community Hospice and it is a tremendous privilege to have been chosen for this role. I’m excited to be joining colleagues, volunteers and staff across the Longfield family.
“Gloucestershire is my home county and I’m looking forward to working in partnership with the many fabulous people and organisations who share a passion for addressing and responding to the significant care challenges we face as a society in our county.”
Sally Pearson, chair of Longfield, said: “Clare’s wealth of experience in the third sector, particularly her experience within a charity with organisation-wide volunteer leadership, meant she was an exceptional choice, from a list of high-calibre candidates.
“As well as an outstanding professional career, Clare has a warm and engaging personality. We look forward to welcoming her to Longfield.
Pearson said she was grateful for the leadership provided by Bernstein over the past four years.
“He steered us through the challenges of the pandemic, modernised our systems, and oversaw new ways of working, as well as engaging more collaboratively with partners across the local healthcare sector.
“Simon leaves the hospice in robust financial health, supporting more palliative and end of life patients and their carers than ever before.”