Charities Aid Foundation chief executive Neil Heslop is to step down later this year after six years in the role.

When he leaves the charity sector body he is to retire from full-time executive roles.

Prior to joining CAF he spent four years leading Leonard Cheshire Disability charity and is also a former managing director of the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

In addition he spent 11 months as a member of the government’s Social Impact Investment Advisory Group, whose final report led to the creation of the Office for the Impact Economy, to promote philanthropy in the UK. He is also a trustee of charity leadership organisation ACEVO.

During his time at CAF he has almost doubled its annual distributions to support the charity sector from £700m in 2020 to £1.3bn last year.

CAF has now started the recruitment process to succeed Heslop.

“For the last six years it has been the privilege of my career to work with dedicated colleagues to support the charities and donors that CAF exists to serve,” said Heslop.

“The organisation is well placed to further grow its contribution to people, communities and causes and support more donors to realise greater impact with their giving.

“I am profoundly grateful to those I have been fortunate to work with for their commitment, collaboration and the warmth shown to me.”

CAF chair Edward Braham added: “On behalf of the Trustees and the Charities Aid Foundation, I would like to thank Neil for his leadership of CAF and his commitment to the sector. He has led CAF through a period of significant growth over the last six years, in an often-challenging external environment. We wish him the very best for the future.”

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