The chief executive of HIV and sexual health charity, the Terrence Higgins Trust has been asked to leave "with immediate effect" after just over a year in the role.

Rosemary Gillespie has been in charge of the charity for 15 months and was informed of the board’s decision last Monday.

Her departure follows a period of high employee turnover and claims that she clashed with senior colleagues, according to the Guardian newspaper.

Gillespie has since tweeted that: "The board gave me a mandate for change, but sadly they didn't have the stomach for it." 

A statement by the board of the Terrence Higgins Trust said “a change of leadership” was needed “for the next stage of the organisation's development”.

“As such, the board has asked Dr Rosemary Gillespie to step down from her position as chief executive, with immediate effect”, it said.

Robert Glick, chair of THT said on Friday, it was a “privilege to work with Rosemary”.

“She has led this remarkable charity over the last 15 months, during a period marked by considerable change. She has been the driving force in developing a new strategy for THT, in making certain we have a solid organisational and financial footing for a more sustainable future, and in helping to guide the vital work we do each and every day,” he said in a statement. 

Glick became chair of THT in November 2014 and had been on the trustee board since 2012. His predecessor Christopher Bones appointed Gillespie in April 2014.

The previous chief executive Sir Nick Partridge, who held the post for 20 years, stepped down after a restructure saw the roles of the chief executive and deputy chief executive combined.

A spokeswoman for the charity told Civil Society News that an interim replacement has not yet been found.