The chief executive of a care charity will retire after 40 years in the role, the organisation has announced.

Mark Sharman, CEO of Help & Care, is set to retire in March next year.

He will work with the charity’s board and senior leadership to ensure a handover when his successor is hired, the organisation added.

Help & Care provides care services for older people in Dorset and across the south coast.

Sharman joined Help & Care when it launched in 1985 as its first development worker, becoming chief executive the same year.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve this organisation and work alongside so many inspiring individuals,” Sharman said.

“Together, we have accomplished remarkable things, and I am confident that Help & Care will continue to thrive and make a difference in the years to come.”

The charity said Sharman has been a pivotal force, leading with passion, integrity and an unwavering commitment to its mission.

Under his leadership, Help & Care has achieved significant milestones, always staying true to its mission, the charity said.

“[Sharman’s] unwavering dedication has ensured that every initiative aligns with the organisation’s core values; as a result, his leadership has touched countless lives and made a lasting impact on the community,” the charity added.