Richard Hawkes has been appointed the new chief executive of disability charity Scope. Hawkes, who succeeds Jon Sparkes, will join the organisation in early January.

Hawkes is currently International Programmes director at VSO with responsibility for VSO’s programmes in more than 40 countries across the world.

Prior to that, he was the founding director of Sense International, an international NGO working throughout the world to support deafblind people.

Alice Maynard, chair of Scope, said: “Richard’s appointment is great news for Scope. We have an ambitious agenda for change and development over the next few years which will benefit enormously from his leadership experience across the sector and his strong personal commitment to the rights of disabled people and their families.”

Richard Hawkes said: "Over the last three years Scope has undergone a significant transformation and I am looking forward to continuing the development of innovative services and influential campaigns which are led and shaped by the rights, needs and opinions of disabled people."