Children’s charity Clic Sargent has announced the appointment of Kate Lee as its new chief executive.

Lee replaces Lorraine Clifton who is retiring after six years at the charity to focus on her work as a trustee.

Lee was previously chief executive of Myton Hospice Group, a charity providing palliative care services across Coventry and Warwickshire. Prior to that she held board-level positions at British Red Cross. She is a member of Acevo’s ImpACT Coalition steering group and a trustee of the young people’s breast cancer charity Coppafeel.

Lee said: “I’m very excited about the challenge ahead. CLIC Sargent plays a vital role helping children and young people with cancer, and their families, to cope with the impact of a cancer diagnosis and its treatment on the young cancer patient and the whole family.

“The charity can currently only provide two out of three young cancer patients with the support they need, and CLIC Sargent’s new strategy sets out how it will grow so that it can reach and support all those who need its vital services. I’m looking forward to working with the staff, volunteers and supporters to make that ambition a reality.”

The charity’s chair Peter Hollins said Lee has a “proven track record in leadership at regional, UK and international charities and has worked in partnership with the NHS, national and local government as well as other charities”.

“CLIC Sargent has an ambitious new ten year strategy to reach and support every child and young person with cancer and their family who needs us, and Kate has the skills and experience to help us realise those ambitions,” he said.

Hollins thanked outgoing chief executive Clifton for leading the charity’s transformation since 2009.

“We are helping more families than ever before, made possible by the increase in income of some 40 per cent from £25m which has been achieved under her leadership,” he said. “She is leaving a fantastic legacy for her successor to build on.”

Lee starts her role on 20 November, 2015.