Garry Graham, currently National Secretary for the union’s South-east Region, becomes Deputy General Secretary.

Sue Ferns, Head of Research and Specialist Services, becomes Director of Communications and Research.

Both appointments will take effect from 1 January, following the retirement of Paul Noon, the current General Secretary.

Mike Clancy, General Secretary Designate who will take over at the top of the union in the new year, said: “These are exciting times for Prospect.

“We now have a new senior management team at the head of Prospect and we will be working closely with the presidential team to develop Prospect as the union for professional workers in the UK, be they in the public or the private sectors.

“I am confident that Garry and Sue are the right people with the right talents to help to take the union forward at these challenging times for our members, and I wish them well in their new duties.”

Garry Graham was promoted to National Secretary in 2006. He has had overall responsibility for Prospect’s Chertsey office and looks after the Air Traffic Control Officers’ and Air Traffic Systems Specialists’ branches in NATS, the Civil Aviation Authority branch and Ascertiva, the third party certification company.

Garry joined Prospect in 2003 from the FDA senior public servants’ union where he worked on behalf of several departments and the devolved government in Scotland. In Prospect he has also worked for members across a range of departments, including transport, industry, environment, the Cabinet Office, education and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

His new duties will include overall responsibility for the energy sector and defence, health and safety and retired members. He said: “It has been my immense privilege to represent members working in aviation and elsewhere for the last seven years.

“It’s my desire to bring the same passion and commitment to my new position as DGS to ensure that Prospect continues to grow and champions the professional interests of our members and the industries where they work.”

Sue Ferns has been Head of Research and Specialist Services (RSS) since 2002 and has worked for the union since 1993. Her duties at RSS include responsibility for the union’s legal team and its pay, pensions and health and safety experts, as well as equalities, international development and union learning.

Sue is a member of the TUC General Council and the General Council’s lead on environment and sustainability, which involves co-chairing the Trade Union Sustainable Development Advisory Committee (TUSDAC) and representing the TUC on the Green Economy Council.

She is also a TUC Aid trustee, represents Prospect on the board of unionlearn and is a board member of Cogent Sector Skills Council. She chairs Unions 21, the trade union think-tank.

Sue said: “I feel privileged and proud to have been given the opportunity to take on the new role of Director of Communications and Research.

“In challenging times for the trade union movement, I believe that integrating two of the union’s key central functions will help to positively differentiate the union and ensure that our voice is heard. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues across the union to meet these goals.”