The anti-poverty charity ActionAid UK has announced that Girish Menon will join the organisation as its new chief executive.

Menon will take up the role in September and will replace the current, interim chief executive David Alexander who has been in charge of ActionAid UK since April 2015.

Alexander, a specialist interim manager, will leave the charity and look for another interim position in the sector.

Menon’s new role will see him lead the United Kingdom branch of the charity. The UK branch had an income last year of £62.7m and employs 165 people.

Before his latest appointment, Menon worked for the Government’s Department for International Development, Plan International and held a number of senior management positions with ActionAid India between 1989 and 1998. He joins ActionAid from WaterAid, where he is currently the director of international programmes as well as deputy chief executive.

Margaret Casely-Hayford, chair of ActionAid, said: “Throughout the rigorous recruitment process, we were incredibly impressed with Girish’s experience of and commitment to the international development sector.

“We look forward to Girish joining our ambitious organisation and leading a high performing team who are motivated by making a huge impact on the lives of people affected by extreme poverty.”

Menon said that he felt “immensely privileged” at his appointment.

“I am excited about the significant contributions that ActionAid can make to global efforts that respect the rights and dignity of the poorest and most excluded people, most often women and children. I look forward to working with the staff, supporters, volunteers and partners of ActionAid, building on the past four decades of history.”