The Resource Alliance, organiser of the International Fundraising Congress held in Holland each autumn, has announced the sudden resignation of new CEO Hans Wolters for personal reasons.

Wolters’ deputy, Neelam Makhijani, will step up to be acting chief executive until the Resource Alliance board meets on 17 and 18 April to decide a future management structure.

In a statement, the Resource Alliance said its executive committee had agreed to release Wolters from post with immediate effect.  Co-chair Jan Krol said: “It is unfortunate and with sadness that we say goodbye to Hans and he leaves us with our best wishes.”

Wolters only joined the global capacity-building charity last November, following an eight-month interim tenure by Lyndall Stein.  Stein stepped in to fill the breach following the resignation of long-term chief Simon Collings early last year.

At the time of Wolters’ appointment, Stein admitted it had been a difficult period for the Resource Alliance while it sought a new permanent head, so Wolters’ early departure is unlikely to be viewed as a positive step.

Wolters’ initial priorities upon starting the job were to develop “strategies for continued growth and securing sustainable funding”.

Previously Wolters held the positions of director and chief operating officer for the European Council for Foreign Relations, of which he was a founding member. He had also worked for Greenpeace and WWF.