Realey brings a wealth of experience across both the charity and health sectors after 15 years military service.

He served in Afghanistan and Iraq, working along international NGOs to delivery long-term improvement projects.

Realey also acted as liaison officer to the Red Cross to reunite families displaced by conflict.

His appointment comes off the back of a three-year stint heading up mental health charity Restore.

He also led Build Africa, an international development charity building schools and delivering education programmes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Realey’s commitment to charity comes after losing his sister to cancer in the late 1990s and witnessing the lack of support available to injured service personnel and their families.

He says he is motivated by his two primary school-age children and a passion to address the inequalities faced by children, and provide greater opportunities for the underprivileged.

“I am delighted to have joined an organisation that does such important work with struggling families,” said Realey.

“This is an exciting time for the charity as we aim to deliver our goal of doubling the number of families we help every year by the end of 2020.

“I am very much looking forward to working with the dedicated charity team and industry colleagues as we work towards our goals together.”

Realey replaces the Family Holiday Association’s long-standing chief executive John McDonald, who retired last year after 17 years with the charity.