Youth support organisation Connexions Wiltshire and Swindon, based in Chippenham, welcomes a new chief executive this week.

Rabindra Shah, currently operations development director at Connexions in Greater Merseyside, took up his new post on February 1.

Mr Shah takes over the running of the youth advice and support service for 13-19 year olds from interim chief executive Doreen Taylor, who has held the fort since June 2004 following the departure of former chief executive Ian Cruise Taylor.

Mr Shah, who is married with three children aged 20, 15 and seven, began his career as a probation officer in Manchester, later becoming manager of the youth offending team in Wirral.

He has a BA (Hons) in Psychology and an MA (Econ) from the Victoria University of Manchester and also holds a Diploma in Management.

He said he was delighted to build on the strong links that Connexions Wiltshire and Swindon has already forged with young people, local businesses, local government organisations and the voluntary and community sector.