The Charity Retail Association has appointed Martin Blackwell, who is currently chief executive of the Association of Town and City Management, to succeed Warren Alexander at the helm of the organisation.

Earlier this year Alexander announced that he will retire in January 2015 after five years at the CRA. Blackwell takes up the role in the new year.

Blackwell has been chief executive at the Association of Town and City Management since 2010 and was previously the development director of Action for Market Towns having spent more than 20 years in the retail sector.

He is a director of the International Downtown Association and on the board of Best Bar None, the National Skills Academy for Retail advisory board and the DCLG Future High Street forum.