Travel industry charity Family Holiday Association has appointed a new chief executive.
Kat Lee will start on January 6 and previously spent six years as head of youth programmes at Girlguiding, the UK’s largest charity for girls and young women.
Lee will replace Martin Realey who is leaving after seven months in the role for personal reasons.
Philippa Harris, chair of trustees for the FHA, said: “The Family Holiday Association has supported families for over 40 years. In that time the value of breaks has become well recognised and they are now regarded as a necessity by most.
“We believe we should now step up our activities to respond to the challenging circumstances families are facing and help even more of them over the coming years.
“We are delighted that Kat has agreed to join us to drive that change for the future. Her experience supporting girls to achieve at Girlguiding coupled with her energy and outlook reflects our ambition for the future of the Family Holiday Association.”
Lee added: “The charity has a proud history of supporting the families who need it most to take a break.
“I am looking forward to working with staff and partners to enable many more families to step away from the challenges of daily life and have fun together on a much-needed break.”
Before Girlguiding, she worked with The Science Museum and the Houses of Parliament for more than a decade, enabling young people and families to access and enjoy institutions many feel are not for them.