Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, is to leave after seven years as chief executive to head up the British Council.

He will leave Macmillan at the end of October and join British Council as chief executive in January 2015, taking over from Sir Martin Davidson who is stepping down after 30 years at the charity, the last seven as chief executive.

Since Devane joined Macmillan in 2007 its annual fundraising income has doubled. Yesterday Civil Society News reported that Macmillan’s voluntary income in 2013 increased by £34.1m on the previous year, to £186.9m.

He said that: “It has been a huge honour to lead Macmillan for the past seven years. It has been a difficult decision, but the chance to work with the British Council, an organisation I have long admired, was one I could not resist.”

Julia Palca, chair of Macmillan, said: “He has made a hugely significant contribution towards Macmillan reaching its ambition of improving the lives of everyone affected by cancer.

“Ciarán’s drive, passion and determination to help us fulfil our ambition to help everyone affected by cancer is inspiration to us all and we are enormously thankful to him. He will be very sadly missed.”

For more news of senior sector appointments sign up to Civil Society News’ fortnightly newsletter, Who’s Moving. You can sign up here.