Zara Ross has officially started as chief executive at automotive charity BEN.

Ross takes over from David Main who announced he would retire as chief exec of the the not-for-profit organisation back in March.

Ross brings with her over 30 years of experience in the charity sector, having held a number of senior roles at the St Monica Trust, Quarriers and Action for Children.

Her previous role was director of transformation & development at the St Monica Trust which provides accommodation, care and support for older people in the south west of England.

Robin Woolcock, chairman/president of the board of trustees at BEN, said: “We are thrilled that Zara has officially joined the BEN team.

“She brings a wealth of experience to the organisation, especially given her strong background in the charity sector and her in-depth knowledge of the care industry. It was extremely important for us to appoint an individual with a care background to the role as we believe a deep understanding of the sector will be instrumental in developing and driving BEN’s future strategy.

“I would like to sincerely thank David Main for his tremendous service and significant contribution to BEN over the years as well as wishing Zara all the best in her new role.”