Sir Nick Partridge will be stepping down from his role as chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust in October after nearly 30 years with the charity.

Paul Ward, the current deputy chief executive will replace him as acting chief executive. Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has decided to combine the roles of chief executive and deputy chief executive to reduce operating costs and plans to advertise this new role soon.

Sir Nick joined the charity as its first paid member of staff when it operated out of a small London office in 1985. He became its chief executive in 1991.

Professor Christopher Bones, chair of trustees at THT said: "We are hugely grateful to Sir Nick for his enormous contribution to Terrence Higgins Trust over the last three decades."

Commenting on his tenure at THT, Sir Nick Partridge said: "It’s been an extraordinary three decades, and a privilege to serve such a remarkable charity as chief executive.”

He added. “I know that the Trust will continue to go from strength to strength and of course I’ll continue to support that journey as a friend of the charity."

After leaving THT he will be focusing his time on his current roles as deputy chair for UK Clinical Research Collaboration and as non-executive director at the Health and Social Care Information Centre.