The former managing director of thankQ has left and will join rival Blackbaud, less than a year after thankQ was bought by Access.

John Bird (pictured), who had worked at customer relationship management software provider thankQ since 1997, will join Blackbaud in the new role of head of peer-to-peer fundraising in February 2014 to take charge of the new division.

When Access acquired thankQ in December 2012, Bird became head of thankQ at Access.

He announced his departure on the company’s blog, and said: “We are at a stage where, having spent the last few years rebranding, being acquired and integrating, there is a brief lull before we move on with our next major release of our software next year.  Unless I can give as much commitment and passion to that phase for the next three to five years, then now is the right time to move on.”

In June this year Access launched a dedicated not-for-profit division and appointed Rob Barr as divisional director. Kevin Weaver, who has worked for thankQ for 11 years, is now head of operations – NFP, and will oversee the ongoing development of the thankQ product.