Diabetes UK has promoted Colette Marshall to chief executive.
Marshall, who has been director of services, volunteering and local impact at the charity since 2013, will succeed Chris Askew, who announced in March that he would be taking up the top job at the Royal College of General Practitioners after eight years leading Diabetes UK.
Before joining Diabetes UK, Marshall worked for organisations including Mend, a social enterprise that helps people become fitter and healthier, Save the Children, Centrepoint and the Big Issue.
She is a trustee at the Bat Conservation Trust and was formerly co-chair of the End Child Poverty Coalition.
She said: “This year, Diabetes UK calculated that more than five million people in the UK are living with diabetes – a number that is rapidly growing, and a crisis that must be addressed head-on.
“At the same time, we are seeing worrying inequalities in the health and care of people living with and at risk of diabetes, depending on their income, where they live, and their ethnicity.
“While we are in no doubt over the scale of the challenges we face, we are a charity brimming with ambition. Ambition for equality, better care and understanding of diabetes. Ambition for more breakthroughs in treatments and progress towards a cure.
“I am excited to take the helm at this time for Diabetes UK and I look forward to working with the diabetes community, colleagues and partners to meet the challenges ahead.”
Carol Homden, chair of Diabetes UK, said: “Colette is a highly strategic leader, with a wealth of experience from both the commercial and charity sector and a track record of ambitious campaigning and influencing.
“With her strong commitment to tackling the challenges of health inequalities and passion for the power of partnership working, we look forward to the growth and development of Diabetes UK under her leadership.”
Marshall will take up her new role when Askew leaves the charity on 21 September.