The chief executive of the City and Guilds Group is stepping down following 12 years in post.

Group CEO Chris Jones will be replaced by Kirstie Donnelly, current managing director of City and Guilds awarding body, on an interim basis.

The City and Guilds Group also consists of ILM, Kineo, the Oxford Group, Digitalme and Gen2.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Jones, who serves as chair of governors at the Activate Learning college group, said: “I’ve decided now is the right time for me to step down as CEO…and get on with doing something different. It has been an honour to serve as CEO of such a fabulous, purpose [driven] organisation and I know I am leaving the group is capable hands with [Ms Donnelly].”

City and Guilds chair Sir John Armitt said: “After 12 years of leading the City and Guilds Group, Chris Jones has decided to step down and move on from his role as Group CEO. The board of trustees and City and Guilds Group colleagues all wish to thank Chris for the significant contribution he has made to the organisation over the past 12 years and we wish him well for the future.

“Taking immediate effect, the trustees have asked Kirstie Donnelly, current MD of City and Guilds, to become interim group CEO as we take steps to appoint a permanent replacement.”

In October, it was announced that City and Guilds had won one of the contracts to deliver the second wave of T levels.