Giles Tomsett is to retire as chief executive of St Catherine’s Hospice after 12 years leading the charity.
The organisation provides palliative care to about 2,000 patients in Sussex and east Surrey while advising families and local communities.
Tomsett, who will step down in January, said leading the charity had been the “greatest privilege of my professional life”.
He said: “Thanks to the compassion and shared determination of our staff, volunteers and supporters, the charity can face the future with confidence.
“It is teamwork that drives St Catherine’s forward. Great people mobilised under common values to deliver their individual and collective best to ensure patients and their families receive outstanding specialist compassionate care, day and night.
“Thanks to these shared efforts we now have an excellent home, a compelling vision, mission and strategy, improved finances and, most important of all, vital care services of the highest quality.
“It is therefore a good time to hand over the baton and for fresh leadership at the helm of this important local charity.”
Tomsett had led the charity through “significant” milestones during his tenure, most notably the £19.5m construction of a hospice building which was completed in 2023, the charity said.
“The move from our previous site on Malthouse Road in Crawley ensured the entirely successful transition into our new modern facility, supporting the ongoing local delivery of outstanding palliative and end-of-life care for thousands of patients and their loved ones,” the charity said.
“In recent years St Catherine’s has been impacted by the hospice funding crisis due to rising inflation and lack of long-term sustainable government funding.
“Despite this, and thanks to the unwavering support of our local community, we have successfully worked with our NHS partners and developed a new model of specialist palliative care that continues to effectively and compassionately support patients and their families across West Sussex and east Surrey. ”