Care After Combat has appointed its clinical and research lead as its next chief executive.

Dr Jane Jones will take up the post on 21 March, succeeding Adrian Kirk.

Kirk, who has been the charity’s chief executive for four and a half years, announced in November that he planned to leave, saying: “I believe that now is the right time to hand over to a new leader.”

He has accepted a voluntary post as an ambassador for the charity following his departure.

Jones has been involved with the charity since it was launched in 2014 and has been its clinical and research lead since January 2021.

The charity said: “Having designed, informed and delivered several of the charity’s veteran support services, and with a wealth of experience in veteran offender healthcare, Jane is extremely well placed to take up the position of chief executive of Care after Combat.”

Jones said: “I am truly looking forward to working with the Care after Combat team, together building on the outstanding work and incredible gains so far achieved, supporting veterans throughout the UK.”

David Rogers, chair of Care After Combat, said: “Following a comprehensive and highly competitive interview process I am delighted that Jane was successful and is our new chief executive.

“Her unique knowledge and insight around veteran offenders, their needs, and current national gaps in this service will help the charity move forward in the future.”

He said that under Kirk’s leadership, “the charity has grown and now has a footprint across England and Wales while being financially stable in what is a challenging financial position for most charities”.