Navca has recruited Labour heavyweight and veteran unionist Joe Irvin as chief executive to succeed Kevin Curley when he retires next year.

Earlier this year, Irvin stood for selection as the next Labour General Secretary but was squeezed off the final shortlist of two.

A former political secretary to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Irvin was also chief special adviser to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott between 1996 and 2001, a role which saw him play a key role in the UK government delegation negotiating the Kyoto treaty on climate change.

He went on to be director of the Freedom to Fly Coalition, which brought together 50 organisations to campaign for long-term sustainable growth in the aviation industry. The coalition – which no longer exists – was instrumental in bringing about the 2003 White Paper on Air Transport. Later Irvin became director of public affairs at the British Airports Authority.

He also held a number of senior posts, including policy chief, at the Transport and General Workers Union over a period spanning 18 years.  And he has been director of parliamentary affairs for RSPB.

Irvin described his new role as “one of the most important posts in the voluntary sector”.

“Navca has built a tremendous reputation under Kevin’s leadership,” he said. "I will be putting all my experience and effort into supporting Navca’s members and ensuring the local voluntary sector’s work is recognised and supported."

Mike Martin MBE, Navca chair, said the trustees were looking for “fresh thinking and new skills”, and that “with his senior leadership experience in government, the corporate and not-for-profit sector we believe we have found just such a person in Joe”.

Kevin Curley is to retire from Navca next March. Irvin will start on 16 Jan and there will be a handover period when both are in post.