The hunt is already on for the talented and experienced individual who will lead the new approach to service development and delivery.

"This is a very important role on which the success of our new strategy will depend," said Lynne Berry. "It is vital that we get the right person, which is why we have lost no time in starting our search.

"Bringing all WRVS services for older people together is not just about management but about leadership. We want to put older people in control and make sure that we are delivering what they tell us they want. The new director will look at how we can fit all our activities together so that they respond better to what older people want. They will also see where the gaps are and work with staff and volunteers to develop new services, ensuring, for example, that something working well in one part of the country can also be introduced in another", explained Lynne.

"The new director will play a key role in developing better partnerships with other organisations. He or she will be talking to other organisations nationally at a senior level and look for ways in which we can work more closely to improve the help we offer older people, while our teams of regional and local managers will be doing a similar thing in their area.

"Most of all, this job is about delivery. We have ambitious plans for WRVS and the new executive director will have a clear focus on achieving our plans and on ensuring WRVS is able to continue providing great services that enable older people to live the way they want."

Lynne expects to be able to announce who has been appointed to the new post by the end of July 2009.