Tracey Bleakley, chief executive of Hospice UK, is to step down at the end of the year.
Bleakley, who has been with the umbrella body for the past six years, will become chief executive designate of the Integrated Care Board for Norfolk and Waveney’s Integrated Care System, as part of the ongoing reforms to the NHS.
Hospice UK said she had “inspired the hospice sector through a complex and challenging period, while continuing to drive improvement in the quality of care delivered for families across the UK”.
She also led negotiations to secure more than £300m in government funding, as well as PPE supplies, for hospices during the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity said.
Bleakley, who was shortlisted for a Charity Chief Executive award at this year’s Third Sector Awards, joined Hospice UK from the top job at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.
She said: “It’s been the most incredible journey with Hospice UK and I’ve been privileged to work with such dedicated people on the vitally important issue of end of life care, death, dying and bereavement.
“I am delighted that in my new position I will still be able to connect with hospices and I remain committed to this sector that does such incredible work.
“During my time at Hospice UK I am proud to have been able to play a role in supporting the development of end of life care in this country.”
Paul Jennings, chair of Hospice UK, said Bleakley had shown “extraordinary leadership and innovative thinking to drive for change and address inequalities in quality and availability of care for people at the end of their life”.
He said: “Tracey’s leadership has steered Hospice UK and enabled support and sustainability of the hospice sector through some of the toughest moments in its history and she will be very missed.”
Bleakley will step down from Hospice UK at the end of the year.
The charity said it would start the recruitment process for a successor in January.