Dr Charmaine Griffiths will take on the role from February 2020.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has appointed its new chief executive.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths will take on the role from February 2020, succeeding current CEO Simon Gillespie OBE, who will retire from the charity at the end of December.

Dr Griffiths is a former executive director of strategy and performance at the BHF, and is currently the chief operating officer at the institute of cancer research.

She also holds leadership roles with the London Cancer Hub and a pioneering new £75 million Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery set to open in spring 2020.

Dr Griffiths did her PhD and postdoctoral research in Neuroscience at University College London, alongside working in public engagement for the Wellcome Trust. 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.

Announcing the appointment, Dr Doug Gurr, chair of BHF trustees, said: “Charmaine’s 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.”

The BHF recently published its new strategy, setting out ambitions across research, patient care and policy influencing.

Dr Griffiths led the development of the previous BHF strategy, winning the best strategic transformation category at the Chief Strategy Officer Awards 2014.

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.”