The chief executive of the Charity Retail Association, Warren Alexander, will retire in January next year, the CRA has announced today. .

Alexander joined the CRA five years ago as chief executive from the digestive charity Core, where he was also chief executive.

His previous role was as head of fundraising at the Prostate Cancer Research Centre.

The CRA said he has amassed 40 years of experience in the charity sector working in a variety of leadership positions, including communications, marketing and fundraising.

Ben Merrett, chair of the CRA, said: “Warren has made an outstanding contribution to the CRA and the sector as a whole. He has overseen a modernisation of the CRA, achieved record growth in membership numbers and secured important wins in government for all charity retailers.”

Alexander added: "I just want to say thank you to our members and colleagues who have helped us achieve so much during my time at the CRA. I wish them the very best in the future."
 

The CRA said it planned to begin the process to recruit a new chief executive soon.