The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has appointed Ruth Lake as its new director of strategy and business development.

Ruth took office on December 6. After a short handover period, she will succeed Richard Orton, who will leave IOSH to serve as managing director elsewhere.

Before being appointed, Ruth served as the interim director of professional services for IOSH for several months. She has a broad and diverse background in publishing and professional groups. She previously led the commercial publishing team of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and provided a series of commercial and membership services at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Ruth's 20 years of experience covers product and content development activities, business services, and the overall profit and loss responsibility of leading communication strategies. She has also worked with global stakeholders and partners in her professional institutional roles, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

She was previously the project development manager of the College of Landscape, responsible for managing key strategic projects, such as the development of a new online CPD system, the establishment of strategic partnerships with other professional organizations focused on high street regeneration, and the establishment of a new competency framework and membership access standards .

Speaking of her appointment, Ruth emphasized her commitment to consolidate and develop IOSH's commercial and strategic relationships while expanding the organization's products and services to emerging markets. She said: "I am very happy to be the Director of Strategy and Business Development of IOSH. Richard Orton has left a large number of vacancies, but I am very much looking forward to continuing to contribute as a member of the IOSH senior leadership team. Put a new focus on the Strategy and Business Development Board.

"In the coming months, I look forward to working with the staff team, volunteers and governance roles, as well as those who work closely with the Strategy and Business Development Bureau-including our corporate customers, strategic partners, and training providers. Completing the prominent elements in the WORK 2022 strategy will help to form and realize the next stage of development of the entire IOSH."