Richard Hawkes has been appointed the new chief executive of Scope, succeeding Jon Sparkes, who is standing down to become director of workforce development for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.

Hawkes (pictured), who will join the disability charity in the new year, is currently international programmes director at VSO. Prior to that, he was the founding director of Sense International, an international NGO working throughout the world to support deafblind people. 

Alice Maynard, chair of Scope, said:“Richard’s appointment is great news for Scope.  We have an ambitious agenda for change and development over the next few years which will benefit enormously from his leadership experience across the sector and his strong personal commitment to the rights of disabled people and their families.”