British Jew has been named as the new chairman of the World Union for Progressive Judaism.

Mike Grabiner, the former chair of the Movement for Reform Judaism will replace current chairman, Californian Steven Bauman, at the umbrella organisation. The WUPJ serves communities in more than 45 countries around the world.

Mr Grabiner, a member of Finchley Reform Synagogue, is the chair of governors for the recently opened cross-communal secondary school JcoSS.

A Cambridge University graduate, he grew up in an Orthodox household but moved to Reform Judaism as an adult.

The chairman of the movement for Reform Judaism, Stephen Moss, congratulated Mr Grabiner and said the appointment was “wonderful news for Progressive Jewry ".