Tom Wright CBE has been appointed as Chief Executive of the new charity being formed by Age Concern England and Help the Aged. Tom will start his new role in early 2009 with extensive experience in leading high-profile organisations through successful transformational change.

Tom Wright is currently the Chief Executive of VisitBritain – the body charged with marketing Britain world-wide as a visitor destination. He is also a Trustee of the Imperial War Museum and Chair of the Trading Company. He has previously served as Chief Executive of the British Tourist Authority and as a Board Director of the Saga Group. As Chief Executive at the British Tourist Authority, Tom helped lead the recovery of the British visitor economy following the foot and mouth epidemic and the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Tom has a strong track record in managing organisational change having led on the restructure and merger of the British Tourist Authority with the English Tourism Council into VisitBritain in 2003.

The Transition Board of Trustees confirmed this important appointment last week and has set Tom the task of building on the exceptional track record of Age Concern England and Help the Aged in developing advocacy and policy and promoting the needs and rights of older people in the UK and overseas. Tom will also strengthen the commercial and fundraising skills of the new organisation and his marketing background will ensure the extensive interests of the new charity are maximised.

He will commence his role as Chief Executive of the new charity in January. The new charity will have a combined turnover in excess of £150 million and will bring together over two thousand staff from both organisations, along with the extensive commercial and retail interests that help support the interests of the sector.

Commenting on his appointment, Dianne Jeffrey, Chairman of the new charity said: 'Tom Wright’s appointment is an exciting and important milestone as we all build the new organisation together. He demonstrates a very high degree of professionalism in establishing the new charity and a clear commitment to the needs and aspirations of older people. He keenly appreciates the way the landscape and marketplace for older people are changing, and is committed to making a difference. His ambitious strategy describes the new charity and its integral partner relationships delivering flagship services and products to the sector.

'The new charity will be the most powerful voice for older people in the UK – and Tom’s track record of delivery will be pivotal in ensuring our success. We want to create the very best organisation possible to build on the decades of commitment both charities have shown at the local, national and international level. With his experience of leading major change, organisational vision, commercial and communications skills, Tom is the right person for this high-profile position. Along with my fellow Trustees, I very much look forward to working with Tom as we put together this cutting-edge, brand new organisation.'

Tom Wright, Chief Executive of the new charity said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed to this role. I want to build on the success that Age Concern England and Help the Aged have achieved as separate charities over many years and create what I passionately believe will be one of the most powerful and influential new charitable and social enterprise organisations in the UK.

'The challenges that face us are immense: the new charity will have to grapple with enormous social change as societies age worldwide. Working with staff, volunteers, supporters and donors of Age Concern England and Help the Aged, we will construct together a new charity of which we can all be proud. I want to help fashion an organisation that will have the influence to create change, to deliver flagship services that address the challenges of growing older both in the UK and across the world, and which puts older people at the heart of everything we do.

'What has impressed me most about both existing organisations is the commitment to helping older people wherever and whenever that help is needed. Whether it is the delivery of advice, information and services at a local level; or the remarkable fundraising work and campaigning activity which has genuinely shaped national debate and change – Age Concern England and Help the Aged have gained a reputation of which all can be proud. I welcome this unique opportunity to help create a new organisation which brings together the best of both charities, and which heralds a step-change towards an exciting new future.'

Tom Wright will begin his work of building the new charity in early 2009. His priorities in the coming months will be to help bring the two organisations together throughout the country. He will lead on the development of a combined name and brand for the new organisation and work with the new parallel charities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – each of whom will appoint their own Trustees and executive teams. He will seek to ensure that the very effective work of the current Age Concern federation is an integral part of local service delivery for the new charity and equally will want to ensure that the new organisation is truly international in its scope and influence.

Tom Wright concludes: 'I envisage a strong single voice for older people - one which creates and influences policy at its origin, is based on a genuine knowledge base, and performs with a clear and tight agenda addressing issues such as poverty, health, control, loneliness and place. I believe that we can create an organisation that will campaign on issues such as equality, pensions, and the impact of conflict and material disadvantage among older people - wherever and however it exists. I want to share in the creation of a charity that delivers outstanding products and services which secure positive change and enrich older people’s lives. It is a compelling vision which deserves to succeed especially in these challenging times.'