Former journalist Hester Abrams has been appointed director of Jewish Book Week to succeed Geraldine D'Amico, who will retire as director after this year's festival next month.

Ms Abrams was a journalist at Reuters, latterly editor of its global customer magazine. Most recently she has been TV researcher on the BBC2 drama The Hour.

Jewish Book Week, run by Ms D'Amico since 2005, has grown into one of Britain's most prestigious international literature festivals. This year, in which JBW moves to a new location in London's King's Place, next to the Guardian building, marks its 60th anniversary.

Ms D'Amico said she felt she had taken the festival as far as she could. The JBW co-chairs, Gail Sandler and Lucy Silver, said: "We are very sorry to say goodbye to Geraldine D'Amico whose contribution to JBW has been quite remarkable. The festival now holds an incomparable position in the Jewish arts calendar and a significant profile in London's cultural scene."

Meanwhile, the former chief executive of Jewish Women's Aid and the Soho Theatre Company, Abigail Morris, has been appointed the new chief executive of the Jewish Museum.

Ms Morris, who was also chief executive of Jewish thinktank ResponseAbility, takes up her new appointment in March. She said: "I plan to pack the museum with dynamic events and exhibitions that will attract visitors morning, noon and night."