Michael Wegier is to leave the United Jewish Israel Appeal in February after six and a half years as chief executive.

UJIA chairman Louise Jacobs informed supporters of the charity on Thursday, paying tribute to a “truly committed chief executive driven by an impressive knowledge of both Israel and the needs of the Jewish community here in the UK”.

Saluting his “sound grasp of the community and his wonderful devotion to the cause of Israel and the UJIA,” she said Mr Wegier was “a first-class professional, an outstanding Israel educator and is passionate about engaging young people.”

Mr Wegier said he had loved working at the charity. “As the task of engaging our community with Israel comes with ever-changing new challenges and complexities, the time is right for me to pass the baton to a fresh conductor of this wonderful orchestra.”

Mr Wegier was previously director of UJIA’s programme and planning before moving to Israel to head the Melitz Institute in Jerusalem for five years.