The Charity Retail Association has confirmed that chief executive Martin Blackwell left the organisation last month with immediate effect “for personal reasons”.

He has been replaced on an interim basis by CRA board member, Steve Biddle. 

Blackwell left the membership body on 21 July after just seven months in the role. He is the fourth person to leave the organisation - which employs just eight people - since January. 

CRA chair Ben Merrett, said Blackwell’s departure came partly as a result of his daily long commute from East Anglia to London. But he added that Blackwell has made himself available to help the organisation during the interim period over the coming months.

Biddle said "under the circumstances", the board decided it would be better for Blackwell to leave immediately.

Blackwell was new to the charity sector, having previously worked as chief executive of the Association of Town Centre Management and Action for Market Towns.

Other CRA resignations this year include Andreas Maier, head of business development, who resigned last month; Liam Challenger, media and member communications officer who left in May and senior public policy officer Dan Rattigan, who joined last November and left earlier this year.

CRA confirmed it is advertising for a new chief executive to start early next year. The group is offering a salary of £65,000 per annum.

Blackwell was approached for comment by Civil Society News but did not respond by the time of going to press.