Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer have today announced that they will merge to create the UK’s largest breast cancer research charity.
A joint statement from the two organisations said the new charity, which will have combined income of around £27m based on last year's figures, is expected to launch in spring 2015 when its new name and branding will be unveiled.
The charities said they agreed that by joining their organisations they would be able to work faster towards achieving their aims and increase research into treating and preventing breast cancer.
Both current chairs, Isla Smith, of BCC, and Stephanie Monk, of Breakthrough, will step down and the search for a new chair by the executive search firm Perrett Laver will begin today, the statement said.
A new senior management team, made up of current directors from both charities, has already been appointed to lead the new charity when it is launched next year.
Existing directors will continue to hold their posts until the new charity is launched. Both charities have nine directors each while the new charity will have just seven.
In the joint statement, chief executives Askew and Morgan said: “United, we will be a stronger, more effective force committed to putting an end to breast cancer. By combining our energies and expertise we’ll make greater progress in more efficient ways and achieve our shared ambition that by 2050, no one will die from the disease.”