Tearfund’s disaster management director of has been appointed as the U.K.-based humanitarian agency’s new international director, according to an announcement Thursday.

David Bainbridge succeeds Peter Grant, who had served as Tearfund international director for five years before leaving the agency to set up a Christian alliance to ending violence against women.

In Thursday’s announcement, Tearfund said Bainbridge was stepping into the role of international director from a strong background in international development, particularly disaster management and working with local partners.

Having worked in the NGO sector for over 20 years, Bainbridge has spent the last ten years working for Tearfund in a variety of roles and had responsibility for operational responses to disasters and emergencies before becoming disaster management director.

Bainbridge also spent 13 years with Canadian NGO Emmanuel International before serving at Tearfund, working on field assignments in Africa and the Caribbean and later serving as their director of international operations.

“David is passionate about Tearfund’s vision and our focus on the role of the local church in serving people who are living in poverty,” remarked Matthew Frost, Tearfund’s chief executive.

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“He is an outspoken and very effective advocate for beneficiary accountability, and has a great track record in building teams and leading and motivating people in very demanding circumstances,” he added.

According to Tearfund, Bainbridge is widely known within the sector for his work in promoting beneficiary accountability and led the agency to become the first from the United Kingdom to achieve certification with the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP).

Founded in 1968, Tearfund works in over fifty countries worldwide - particularly in Africa, Asia and South America, and as well as across Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom. Its original name - TEAR Fund - stood for The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund.