Crime reduction charity Nacro has appointed Jacob Tas, interim chief executive at Action for Children, as its head.

Tas will be replacing Paul McDowell who is leaving the charity to become HM chief inspector of probation, where he will start next month. Tas is starting his role from his current position at Action for Children. He joined the charity three years ago as its executive director for children.

Tas said he was excited to be joining Nacro as its new CEO. He added: “I am very much looking forward to commencing my role and working with the staff, trustees and leadership team to deliver positive and real outcomes for individuals and communities across the board.”

Tas has previously worked for the Prince’s Trust, as well as working in the private sector at Royal P&O Nedlloyd. He will join Nacro in April.

Commenting on the appointment, Dr Matthew Litobarski, chair of Nacro, said: “These skills and experience, together with his enthusiasm for the role, combined to make him an outstanding candidate for us. We are very much looking forward to him joining us.”

Tas has worked with Amnesty International in Taiwan, the Netherlands and the UK. He is currently a trustee of War Child, a charity that aims to protect children living in dangerous war zones.

Sir Tony Hawkhead will take over as chief executive of Action for Children in March.

Action for Children’s chair, John O’Brien, said of Tas’s  departure: I am immensely grateful to Jacob for everything he has achieved.

“Jacob has made a tremendous impact on our charity. He has played a huge role in putting us on a firm and sustainable footing for the future and has been an inspiration to staff across the charity.”