Dermot Kehoe, the chief executive of Bicom, is to leave in May after three years at the head of the Israel advocacy group.

He is moving to become external affairs director of the Health and Social Care Information Centre, the governmental body which collects and analyses data on health and care.

Mr Kehoe, who joined Bicom in 2011 and became chief executive the following year, felt that “the time is right to move on. After two Gaza conflicts, two general elections in Israel and Britain biggest ever pro-Israel conference, now is the time for someone new to take the organisation forward.”

He said that the warmth and encouragement of Jewish community were “what made this job so rewarding. I am excited to be taking on new challenges in the NHS, a cause like Israel, in which I believe passionately”.

He added that while “the challenges aren’t getting any easier in Israel advocacy, I’m confident Bicom will continue to meet them.”
He believed the organisation was “in a good place” and “quite strong at the moment”.

Richard Pater, director of Bicom’s Israel office, will become interim head until a new chief executive is appointed.

Bicom chairman Edward Misrahi said that while “ sad to see Dermot leave, I am very proud of what Bicom has achieved under his leadership and wish him well in his future career. Culminating in this month’s We Believe In Israel conference, Bicom has gone from strength to strength under Dermot’s management and he leaves it in a robust and confident position.”