Cordingley joins Chelsea Foundation following six years as chief executive of Chance to Shine, an independent charity that works to spread the power of cricket in schools and communities across the country.

Previous to that, Laura worked at the Mayor of London’s office as assistant director, responsible for Team London, and held roles at Marylebone Cricket Club, Durham City School Sports Partnership and Volleyball England.

Laura will join Chelsea Foundation in August and will lead the Foundation’s work using the power of football to motivate, educate and inspire its communities.

Cordingley said: ‘I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the Chelsea Foundation in its next chapter. The Foundation has a wonderful ability to change lives and connect communities through its social impact. I can see huge opportunity to further this impact and I very much look forward to working with the passionate team at the Foundation to achieve this in the future.’

Chair of Chelsea Foundation, Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE, said: ‘We are delighted to appoint Laura as our new chief executive, and I’m extremely excited to be working together in the next chapter of the Foundation’s work.

‘Chelsea Foundation is one of the world’s leading football social responsibility programmes, breaking down barriers, driving social change and positively affecting our communities. Laura will elevate this work even further.

‘I’d like to also thank James Murray for his temporary stewardship as interim chief executive of Chelsea Foundation alongside his club responsibilities.’