Employment and business support charity Work Avenue has a new chief executive, David Arden, who will be joining after the summer holidays following more than three years as CEO of the S&P Sephardi Community.

Mr Arden will also bring to the role experience in strategy, business process and project management in the private and public sectors.

Past senior roles have included strategic delivery adviser in the Cabinet Office, programme delivery manager in the Home Office and senior project manager for the London 2012 Olympics.

The Edgware United congregant looked forward to joining an organisation which played “a vital role in our Jewish community, transforming people’s lives by securing jobs, starting businesses and changing careers.

“This is a very exciting time to be taking up the position as our economy begins to recover, meaning there are lots of new opportunities out there for people to earn a living and support themselves and their families.

“My goal is to make sure everyone in our community is aware of all the ways in which Work Avenue can help them — whatever their background, life stage or career journey so far.”

He succeeds Debbie Sheldon, who left Work Avenue to make aliyah, having been with the charity since its inception.

Work Avenue chair Mark Morris was confident Mr Arden would build “on Debbie’s incredible work and take Work Avenue to the next level as we emerge from this pandemic”.