The Board of Deputies has released a statement this morning over the departure of Jon Benjamin, its chief executive for the past eight years.

Deputies were told that Mr Benjamin had begun handing over his responsibilities to colleagues to ensure a "smooth handover" without "undue delay".

In the statement, Mr Benjamin says: “It is with mixed emotions that I announce my departure from the Board of Deputies of British Jews after eight and a half years. There’s never an ideal time to leave an organisation, but personally the timing feels right. The demands of the role are relentless and it would not be right for me to try to continue as Chief Executive whilst pursuing the new and different opportunities that I have beckoning.”

He said he was proud to have represented the Board in the media and elsewhere, becoming “the voice of the Board on many of the most topical issues of the day”.

Board president Vivian Wineman, commenting on Mr Benjamin’s departure – revealed by the JC yesterday evening – said; “Quite literally, from his first week in the post, Jon has steered the Board through some of the toughest challenges. His level-headedness, tact and sound advice has been a constant source of support for me particularly but also for successive presidents and honorary officers, and gained him the respect, admiration and loyalty of his professional colleagues, both within and beyond the organisation".

Mr Wineman said: "Whether it is his finely crafted comments to the media, which always hit just the right spot, his willingness to find time for colleagues on the smallest of matters, his seemingly endless patience in dealing with colleagues and deputies or his knowledge of every facet of the Board’s work, his contribution and professional leadership will be greatly missed and we wish him well for the future.”