The British Heart Foundation has appointed the charity's former executive director of strategy and performance as its new chief executive.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths is currently the chief operating officer at the Institute of Cancer Research and will return to the BHF to take on the chief executive post in February 2020.

The appointment follows the announcement that the current CEO, Simon Gillespie OBE, will be retiring at the end of December.

Griffiths holds leadership roles for several initiatives, including the London Cancer Hub and a new £75m Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery set to open in Spring 2020.

Her subsequent career at the BHF included roles spanning communications, policy and assurance, as well as strategy.

Her non-executive experience includes roles at the Human Tissue Authority, the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Brain Research UK and the Cranfield Trust.

Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I’m delighted to be returning to the BHF. I’m passionate about the life-saving work of the charity and it is a privilege to be re-joining the team of staff, volunteers and supporters at the outset of an exciting new strategy. I look forward to leading the BHF team to beat heartbreak from heart and circulatory diseases.”

BHF chair, Dr Doug Gurr added: “[Griffiths'] broad experience in science, health and operations is impressive and combines the perfect skillset to head our world-leading charity. I’m excited to welcome her back to the BHF.”

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