Sir John has been the CAF’s chief executive since 2007.

Sir John Low is to step down as chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, it has been announced.

Sir John, who has held the post since 2007, will leave his role next year after a successor has been appointed.

Under his leadership, the CAF has strengthened its role as a campaigning organisation, notably forcing then-chancellor George Osborne to drop plans for a cap on tax relief on charitable donations in 2012.

Prior to joining CAF, Sir John was chief executive of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), having moved to the voluntary sector after pursuing a 20 year career in the technology sector.

He was awarded a CBE for services to the voluntary sector and to deaf people in 2008 and knighted in 2017 for charitable services.

The search for a new chief executive will now be carried out, led by CAF chair Sir James Leigh-Pemberton with support from Russell Reynolds Associates.

Sir John said: “This is an exciting time for CAF with many unique opportunities to develop the support given to individual and corporate donors, and to build the capacity and strength of civil society at a global level.

“There is no doubt that under new leadership the organisation will continue to innovate and drive forward its mission to transform lives and communities around the world and have even greater impact in the years ahead.”