Ruth Spellman, Chief Executive of Investors in People, the people standard has resigned after eight years service.

The outgoing Spellman leaves to join the Institution of Mechanical Engineers as their new Chief Executive.

Commenting on her departure, she said: “I am very proud of our record of achievement and the progress we have made in establishing the Investors in People Standard as a framework for improving business performance and competitiveness through effective people development. I am grateful to all those partners, colleagues and friends who have made it such a great success.

“At Investors in People, we place the quest for improved productivity at the heart of our support for business – helping employers of all types and sizes achieve their business goals. I leave secure in the knowledge that Investors in People has the knowledge and experience to continue to make a real difference to British business.”

Phillip Williamson, Chair of the people standard which is used by over 60,000 organisations and has been exported to 27 countries across the globe said that Spellman’s work had been crucial in paving the way to the implementation of the Leitch review and vowed to continue her good work in championing business improvement through people and changing attitudes to training and development.

Phil Hope, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills also paid tribute to her work particularly in bringing the standard to some 11,641 schools and colleges.

Investors in People UK are yet to appoint a successor.