Steve Smith, who was a former school vice principal before becoming a charity chief, has left Havens Hospices in Essex where he was chief executive to take the same role at St Cristopher’s Hospice in London.

Smith joins Havens in 2015 as its director of facilities, and of its Fair Havens hospice, before being promoted to CEO four years later.

He was previously vice principal at Belfairs Academy in Southend-on-Sea.

“Although my time at Havens Hospices is coming to an end, it will remain my local hospice. It has been an enormous privilege to lead the charity through such a transformative period,” he said.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together, from opening new Fair Havens to finding innovative ways to support people in our care.”

Havens has appointed its director of finance and business development Louise Byran as interim chief executive while the board looks for a permanent successor to Smith.

At St Christopher’s Smith replaced interim chief executive Jan Noble.

St Christopher’s chair Neil Goulden said: “Steve is an innovative and ambitious leader who will be an ideal fit for St Christopher’s going forward.

“The hospice sector faces multi challenges at the moment and that requires strong leadership in the hospice and the sector.

“I would like to record my thanks to the fantastic leadership team at St Christopher’s who have driven the organisation forward over the past six months, and in particular I would like to thank our Interim Chief Executive, Jan Noble, who has provided inspirational leadership throughout a period of inevitable uncertainty.”

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