RoadPeace, which supports people bereaved or seriously injured in road crashes, has appointed Kate Davidson as its next chief executive. 

Davidson will join the charity at the end of September from the end-of-life provider Dignity, which she joined as chief operating officer in June 2021 before being promoted to chief executive a year later. 

She succeeds Nick Simmons, who has stepped down from RoadPeace after six years in the role. 

Davidson, who worked in local government bereavement services before joining Dignity, is president of the National Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities and is a tutor for the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management.

She was appointed MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to bereaved people during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Petra Kendall-Raynor, chair of RoadPeace, said Davidson’s “vast experience and unwavering commitment to supporting the bereaved align perfectly with our mission”. 

She said: “We look forward to the positive impact she will undoubtedly have on our organisation and the communities we serve."

Davidson said: “I have been deeply inspired by the amazing work of RoadPeace - not only its commitment to providing meaningful care and support to victims who have been terribly affected by road crashes but also the tireless work that it does to reduce road danger for the benefit of us all. 

“in bringing my experience of leadership within the bereavement services and end-of-life care profession, I look forward to making a real difference to people with this inspirational and important organisation.”