BBC Children in Need has appointed Simon Antrobus as its new chief executive, replacing David Ramsden who announced his departure earlier this year.

The former chief executive of Addaction will start his new role in November.

Antrobus is a charity sector veteran, having previously worked in senior roles for a number of organisations including Scope and Parkinson’s UK.

Commenting on his new position, Antrobus said he was a “long admirer” of BBC Children in Need, and was “honoured to accept the post of chief executive”.

“The annual appeal is a ‘must do’ moment in the country’s calendar and I’m looking forward to working with all parties to ensure that, together, we will have the maximum impact possible on the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK,” he said.

In a statement yesterday, the charity’s chair, Stevie Spring, said that Antrobus’s “track record of strong leadership”, led her to be “confident” that Antrobus could “take BBC Children in Need from strength to strength”.

“On behalf of the entire board, I would like to congratulate him on his appointment, and we look forward to welcoming him to the team,” she said.

Prior to joining Addaction, Simon was chief executive of the charity Clubs for Young People – now known as Ambition. He has also served as chair for a national inquiry on behalf of the Centre for Social Justice as well as the Acevo-sponsored Public Health Commission and for the National Council of Voluntary Youth Services.

BBC Children in Need suffered a setback earlier this year when its life president Sir Terry Wogan died of cancer just a few months after pulling out of its annual television appeal due to ill health.

Paying tribute to Wogan in February, Ramsden said the charity had lost a “wonderful friend” who was the “heart of the charity for over 30 years, raising millions to change the lives of children”.