Veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress has appointed Sue Freeth as its new chief executive.

Freeth succeeds Commodore Andrew Cameron who stepped down in March this year. She will take up the position on 5 January 2016.

A director of operations at The Royal British Legion for 11 years, Freeth oversaw significant change in the way in which The Royal British Legion engages with veterans and delivers its services.

Combat Stress has been operating for almost a century, and is currently supporting more than 6,000 veterans of service in the Armed Services and the Merchant Navy who are suffering from a range of mental illnesses.

The charity had income of £17.8m in the year to March 2014, according to its most recent accounts filed with the Charity Commission. Announcing the appointment the charity said it experienced a 28 per cent increase in referrals last year.

Combat Stress chair Lieutenant General Andrew Graham CB CBE said the next few years will be crucial for the charity and its stakeholders.

He said there is a risk public interest in and empathy for service charities could start to shift elsewhere. However, experience suggests it is difficult to gauge the scale of the impact of conflict on the mental well-being of servicemen and women which manifests itself years after they have left the services.

“Sue brings to Combat Stress a wealth of experience of working with and for ex-servicemen and women, a deep understanding of the needs of veterans, a belief that collaboration for the benefit of those in need works, and a confirmed reputation in the charity and not-for-profit sector. Her experience with Scope and with The Royal British Legion is immediately applicable and we warmly welcome her to lead the charity and the team forward."

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