The Prince’s Trust has appointed a new Chief Executive to lead its UK operations. Nick Stace, who is currently Chief Executive of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, will take on the role in October 2017.

Dame Martina Milburn, who has led the charity since 2004, has moved to Group Chief Executive, a role encompassing The Prince’s Trust in the UK and its start-up charity Prince’s Trust International. Jonathan Townsend was appointed Chief Executive of Prince’s Trust International in May.

Nick Stace joins The Prince’s Trust as the charity plans to extend its work to reach more than 70,000 young people a year. Last week it launched an online learning and mentoring platform to complement its well established programmes to help disadvantaged young people to succeed in education and employment.

Commenting on the appointment, Dame Martina Milburn said:

We are delighted that Nick has decided to join The Prince’s Trust. It’s an exciting time of innovation and expansion for The Trust and Nick has the skills, personality and enthusiasm we need to achieve even more for our young people.

Nick brings leadership and life experiences from across many sectors and countries. These range from financial services, where he sits on the Board of the Financial Conduct Authority, to setting up charities for young people with learning disabilities and for young people who want to change the world through campaigning. Nick’s experience also includes running consumer businesses, as a former deputy CEO of Which? and CEO of CHOICE, the Australian equivalent.

Nick Stace said: "I know from my own personal experiences of school and the various charities I have been involved in, how many young people are not given the best chances in life.

I cannot think of a better mission in life than to help give young people the confidence and purpose to make their world, and our world, a better place. I am very excited to be joining The Prince’s Trust and look forward to rolling up my sleeves and helping the organisation reach out to even more young people in ways that engage and transform their lives.