National children’s health charity WellChild has appointed Colin Dyer as its new director of marketing and communications.

Dyer joins WellChild having spent the past five years heading the marketing and fundraising operation for the Steve Redgrave Trust – a charity established by the five-time Olympian in 2001.

A former newspaper journalist and sponsorship director, 39-year-old Dyer will oversee the marketing, media and event operation at WellChild.

Kedge Martin, WellChild chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have been able to sign up Colin as director of marketing and communications – which is a new role for the charity with a very wide-ranging brief.

“We are a very ambitious organisation and we see this appointment as vital when it comes to raising the profile of our work and our fundraising. There are more sick children than ever before in the UK and so there couldn’t’ be a better time for people to support WellChild.”