The charity leaders body Acevo has appointed Vicky Browning, director of the communications network CharityComms, as its next chief executive.
Browning, a former publisher of Third Sector, will succeed Sir Stephen Bubb, who stood down from the membership body in June after 15 years in charge to lead the leadership and governance initiative the Charity Futures Programme.
Thrilled to be asked to head up @ACEVO as the new CEO from end of Jan. Looking forward to working with members, staff and trustees
— Vicky Browning (@browning_vicky) November 14, 2016
Browning has been director of CharityComms, which works to improve the standard of communications professionals in the voluntary sector, since 2010.
She previously spent 16 years at the publishing company Haymarket, which owns Third Sector and a host of professional and consumer titles, before becoming a publishing and communications consultant for almost six years.
Browning, who writes a monthly column for Third Sector, said in a statement: "I’m genuinely excited to be joining Acevo at a time when the role of charities, and the need for inspirational leaders, is more vital than ever.
"I’m looking forward to working with the Acevo team and trustees to support, empower and encourage our sector leaders in their ambition to create change."
An Acevo spokesman was unable to confirm how much Browning would be paid in her new role, which she will take up on 30 January.
Acevo's latest accounts show Bubb earned £107,000 in the year to the end of March 2016.
Paul Farmer, chair of Acevo, said Browning was the unanimous choice of the appointments committee and would bring a "strong combination of charity understanding and commercial acumen".
Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said he had been working closely with Browning in her role at CharityComms and was delighted she had been appointed to lead Acevo.
"Charity chief executives have specific support needs that Vicky is very well positioned to help Acevo meet," he said.
"CharityComms flourished under her leadership, and I know that Acevo members stand to benefit greatly from her expertise in delivering excellent professional training and development."
Mark Atkinson, chief executive of the disability charity Scope, said Browning had done a brilliant job at CharityComms and hoped her appointment would put an end to "too much navel-gazing in recent years over the role of sector bodies".
He said: "Vicky's appointment is an opportunity to call time on those debates and focus on what really matters – the future role and relevance of our sector and the impact of our work."
Asheem Singh, director of policy at Acevo, has been interim chief executive since Bubb stood down earlier this year.
