WWF UK executive director of communications and fundraising Tobin Aldrich is to take on the leadership of fundraising for Sightsavers in the UK and across the globe.

Aldrich, who starts at Sightsavers as global fundraising director, which is a new role, in mid-November, leaves WWF UK after five years at the helm of its fundraising operation and oversaw a period of significant growth at the conservation charity. His departure follows shortly after the charity decided to merge its communications and fundraising departments, bringing both under Aldrich's oversight, in order to prepare the charity for its next strategic period.

He returns to Sightsavers having headed up direct marketing at the charity between 1998 and 2000.

Total income at Sightsavers for 2012 was £38.8m, nearly half of which is raised through individual supporters. A quarter of the charity’s income (£10m) comes via government grants. Income at the charity has been steady for the past few years. Since joining WWF UK in 2008, income at that charity has risen from £44.2m to £66.2m.

In a statement about his new role, Aldrich said: “I am looking forward to returning to Sightsavers, which has one of the most powerful and compelling cases for support in the charity sector. The organisation has ambitious goals over the next few years and I will be working to secure a significant growth in fundraising performance to achieve them.”

WWF UK is now in the final stages of deciding its recruitment strategy for Aldrich's replacement.