Former Barclays Group chief executive John Varley, who led the secretive Project Merlin campaign to transform the banking sector's image after the financial crisis, has been appointed as Marie Curie Cancer Care's chairman.

Varley will succeed Sir Peter Davies who retires from his one-year tenure at the end of March. The 54-year-old welcomed the challenges that his new role would entail: "There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done in ensuring everyone gets the right care and support they need towards the end of life in the place of their choice," said Varley, "I look forward to supporting the team at Marie Curie in the great work they do.”

Varley remains a senior adviser to the board of Barclays Plc following his exit after six years at the helm. As chief executive he led a recent series of secretive talks between banking bosses and the government, held to improve the reputation of the banking sector amidst the bonus scandal. The action was dubbed Project Merlin and was rumoured to involve significant improvements for charity banking, including a £1.5bn cash injection into the Big Society Bank, which has since reportedly suffered setbacks. 

Varley's exit as chief executive at Barclays was brought forward from 31 March 2011 to 31 December 2010 following "the successful completion of all transition activities".

He is also chairman of Business Action on Homelessness and president of the Employers’ Forum on Disability.