Andy Haldane, chief executive of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, is to retire.

Haldane, who has led the RSA for nearly four years, will step down in the summer, which the charity said would give time for a replacement to be found.

In a statement, the RSA said: “After 36 years without a break, Andy has decided now is the time to take one.

“Andy has led the organisation for nearly four years. During that time, the RSA has been transformed for the better by the Design for Life programme.”

Haldane was formerly chief economist at the Bank of England, according to the RSA’s website.

He was also the permanent secretary for levelling up at the Cabinet Office from September 2021 to March 2022. 

Haldane is the founder and president of the think tank Pro Bono Economics, is the vice-chair of the charity National Numeracy and chair of the National Numeracy Leadership Council.

He also chairs the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s Industrial Board and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Bradford Literature Festival and the South Yorkshire Mayor’s Economic Advisory Council.

The RSA said its board would lead a “robust and detailed process” to appoint Haldane’s successor in the coming months, with executive recruitment company Saxton Bampfylde leading the search.

Haldane said: “I have hugely enjoyed my time as chief executive of the RSA. I am very proud of what we have achieved and could not be more confident that the RSA, a great institution, will go on to even greater heights in the future.”

Sir Loyd Grossman, chair of the RSA, said: “My fellow trustees and I are extremely grateful to Andy for his inspirational leadership and significant contribution. He has led the RSA with great skill and diligence, growing the organisation globally and domestically. 

“Andy has led a successful transformation strategy and leaves the RSA in a strong position as it enters the next phase of development and growth.”