Cancer Research UK’s Paul Farthing has been recruited to head fundraising at the new charity created by the merger of Age Concern and Help the Aged.

Farthing, currently head director of high value relationships at CRUK, will join his new charity in March as it prepares to rebrand as Age UK this Spring.

Age Concern chief executive Tom Wright said the charity was “delighted” by the appointment of Farthing, following a competitive recruitment process. “His distinguished career spanning 20 years in fundraising and marketing will prove extremely valuable in helping us realise our ambitions,” said Wright.

Farthing steps into a newly-created role within the merged charity. During the merger process the charity decided to split its group marketing and fundraising division into two parts: marketing and fundraising.

Age UK will have a total turnover of more than £150m a year.