Julie Whelan is to join Nordoff Robbins as chief executive.

Whelan has extensive experience in both the education and third sectors. She has had a number of senior leadership roles in schools, local authorities, the Department for Education and the Youth Sport Trust.

During the last seven years she has been the founding CEO for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, a charity that supports disadvantaged young people and one that was recently highly commended by the Charity Times against its ...