Clare Pelham, chief executive of Leonard Cheshire Disability, has announced that she will be stepping down from the role after five years at the charity.

According to a statement from the charity, Clare Pelham (pictured) will be leaving the organisation to “look for a new role” after five years as chief executive of the disability charity. According to a spokeswoman for the charity, the recruitment process to find Pelham’s replacement will likely get under way after Easter.

The spokeswoman also said that Pelham’s leaving date is not fixed, as she will be “staying for some time to ensure a smooth transition” with the recruitment of her replacement.

In a statement, Pelham said: “I am proud of all the charity has achieved under my leadership in the last five years through its amazing staff and volunteers, and I am confident about its future. This has not been an easy decision to take but I believe the time is right now for me to look for a new role.

“It has been a privilege to be chief executive of Leonard Cheshire. I have been a supporter of the charity since I was a student volunteer, and I will always continue to be a supporter.”

Sally Davis, chair of Leonard Cheshire, said “I want to thank Clare for her vision and commitment over the last five years. The trustees and I wish her well and are grateful for her immense contribution. A new chief executive will be recruited in due course and we will ensure a smooth transition.”

In the time that Pelham has been at Leonard Cheshire Disability, its income has fluctuated between £156.3m in the year ending 31 March 2011 and £162.2m as of 2015. The charity is the UK’s largest sector provider of social care services for disabled people.