The Institute of Legacy Management and Institute of Fundraising have put merger plans on hold, after the ILM’s chief executive decided to step down for health reasons.

Simon West will leave the ILM on 19 September. In a statement released today the organisation said: “For some time now Simon has been battling a chronic condition and he has made the difficult decision to leave ILM on 19 September to concentrate on his health and recovery.”

The statement adds that while the IoF and ILM remain “firmly in favour of the merger”, plans have been put on hold until the ILM recruits a new chief executive.

ILM’s chair, Helen Hoare, and another trustee, Andrew Sawbridge, will also step down in September. Maria King becomes acting interim chair with immediate effect.

Hoare said: “It has been a privilege to be a director of ILM for the last six years but after much reflection I have decided that now is the right time for me to stand down as chair and from the board at the end of September.”

She added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Simon for his sterling service to ILM and its members during his tenure as chief executive and to wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.”

The two bodies announced plans to merge in April and the ILM’s 500 members had been due to vote on the proposal at an Extraordinary General Meeting this month.

But the plans were put on hold to allow further consultation after some members felt the timetable for the merger was being rushed. An informal poll of members ahead of the ILM’s annual conference in May found 50.5 per cent were against the proposal, 33.3 per cent were in favour and 16.2 per cent undecided.

After the conference, West told Civil Society News that the organisation had decided to “hit the pause button” on the plans to allow for further consultation with members.

The merger has the support of the ILM’s directors and the backing of the IoF’s trustees, but cannot go ahead unless approved by ILM members.