Sam Younger will not serve a second term as Charity Commission chief executive and the regulator has this week started looking for a replacement.

Younger started the role in 2010, with his first three-year term coming to a close in August this year. However Younger has decided he does not want to take on a second three-year term, but instead has extended his contract until August 2014 to enable an effective hand over to a successor.

A position for a new chief executive is currently being advertised, with a lower salary offered than Younger is earning in the same position. The advertised role is for £125,000, while the Charity Commission’s annual report shows Younger’s salary is somewhere between £130,000 - £135,000.

The Commission’s board considered the appropriate salary range and commissioned an independent market assessment before agreeing the indicative salary range.

A spokeswoman from the Charity Commission said Younger had contributed greatly to the organisation during his tenure. “He has led the Commission through a difficult period of change, funding reduction and restructure,” she said.

“The board now wants to make an appointment to lead the Commission in the next phase of its change and development.

“Sam has not yet given detailed thought to what he would like to do next, but has said he is unlikely to seek another full-time role.”