Michelle Mitchell is leaving her post at the MS Society to take over the chief executive role at Cancer Research UK

A cancer charity has unveiled its new boss.

Michelle Mitchell OBE has been appointed as chief executive of Cancer Research UK, replacing Sir Harpal Kumar who will stand down this summer.

Mitchell has served in a similar role at the MS Society for the past five years, and said she is looking forward to supporting the charity’s research work.

“It’s a privilege to be appointed as chief executive of the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research,” she said. “Like many people, I have family who have been affected by cancer and I’m passionate about Cancer Research UK’s goal to speed up impact on survival.”

Before joining the MS Society, Mitchell’s previous leadership roles were as director general of Age UK and chair of the Fawcett Society.

She also serves as a non-executive director of NHS England, and has been a trustee of The King’s Fund and the Power to Change Trust.

Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, chairman of Cancer Research UK, said that Mitchell’s work in helping the MS Society to progress treatments was a key reason for her selection.

He said: “Michelle is an outstanding and seasoned charity leader, with the skill and ambition to lead the charity in the next phase of achieving our vision of three in four people surviving cancer by 2034.”