Alzheimer's Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes is set to join the Samaritans as its new CEO.

Hughes, who has been with Alzheimer's Society for a decade, will join the suicide-prevention charity in May 2020, replacing current CEO Ruth Sutherland.

Sutherland has been at the charity since 2015 and issued her intention to pursue a portfolio career and family-focused life in October 2019.

Hughes joins the charity as it is about to embark on its new strategic planning cycle. His aim is to ensure Samaritans remains relevant and accessible to those going through a difficult time and is even more inclusive and diverse.

Prior to Alzheimer's Society, he was CEO of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and head of external affairs at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

He co-chairs the Dementia Friendly Communities Champions Group with Angela Rippon for the UK Prime Minister. He is also vice-chair of the World Dementia Council and a member of the NHS Assembly.

Hughes was awarded a CBE for services to older people in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2015 and he received an Honorary Doctorate from Exeter University in recognition of his outstanding contributions to dementia research in December 2018.

“I feel enormously privileged to be appointed the new CEO of Samaritans, and I am committed to build on all the work of recent year," Hughes said.

“I am delighted to welcome Jeremy to Samaritans. He brings with him a wealth of experience from the voluntary sector, and a passion for what we do. Over the last five years, Samaritans has achieved some significant positive changes under Ruth’s leadership, including improvements in our infrastructure, service offering, visibility and influence," Samaritans chair, Jenni McCartney said.

"Jeremy joins at an exciting time for us and I look forward to working with him to build on our recent successes to ensure that we achieve our mission that fewer people die by suicide.”

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