Humanitarian and development agency Care International UK has appointed Laurie Lee, Africa director at the Gates Foundation, as its new chief executive.

Former chief executive Geoffrey Dennis left the charity in February, after leading the charity for 10 years. He is now chief executive of education charity Reach to Teach.

While at the Gates Foundation, Lee (pictured) led a team working on policy, advocacy and government relations in Africa. He also led the establishment of new Gates Foundation offices in Ethiopia, South Africa and Nigeria.

Before working at the Gates Foundation, Lee was a civil servant in the British Government.

Lee said of his appointment: “I am delighted to be joining Care International UK. Its vision of a world where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security is close to my heart and shared by the British public.

“Care works in innovative ways and is recognised by the UK Government as delivering outstanding results with high value for money. I am excited to join this fantastic organisation.”

During the interim period, the charity has been headed by a team of Care International directors.

The charity’s chair, Oliver Stocken, said: “We are delighted to welcome Laurie Lee to the role of chief executive. Throughout his career Laurie has shown an unwavering commitment to tackling injustice and making a difference to those who live with the daily burden of poverty.

“We are very happy to welcome someone with experience in finding pioneering approaches to the fight against poverty and working with policy makers to create lasting change on the ground.”

Care International, a Charity Index-250 member which had an income of £43.7m in December 2013, helps the world’s poorest people find routes out of poverty, having a particular focus on women and girls.