Su Sayer, the founder and outgoing chief executive of United Response, will join the Campaign to Protect Rural England next month.

She is taking over from Peter Waine, who will step down next month after six years in the role, having completed two three-year terms.

Sayer co-founded United Response and has led the organisation for more than 40 years and recently announced that she would step down as chief executive once a successor is in place. She is also a Charity Awards judge.

Commenting on her new role, she said: “The countryside is in my blood and I’m thrilled to have been offered a position that will allow me to apply everything I’ve learnt at United Response to another cause very close to my heart.”