A former top-flight executive from one of the world’s truly global corporations is to be the new chair of the Church Mission Society, one of the country’s oldest world mission agencies.

John Ripley was an executive at Unilever for 35 years, finishing his career there as head of corporate development for the worldwide group.

He succeeds the Rt Rev Paul Butler, Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, in January 2011.

Known in the business world as a consummate strategist, Mr Ripley says of his new role that he wants to help build on the courage shown by CMS in the recent past “to take risks with God and for God at a time of considerable uncertainty and change”.

Some of those courageous decisions have been mergers with other agencies, most recently the South American Mission Society. “It is a mission organisation leading the way in partnership and merging.”

Of his own mission, Mr Ripley says he felt a clear call 37 years ago to be an ambassador for God in the business world. Having semi-retired at the end of 2008, his various responsibilities now include being chair of the Christian Association of Business Executives, and treasurer of Feba Radio, the Christian broadcasting charity.

“John brings a unique combination of business expertise, spiritual maturity and international experience,” said the Ven Martyn Snow, the vice-chair of CMS Trustees. “His skills will be invaluable as the Board plans ahead in the fast changing world of global mission.”

Mr Ripley is a committed member of his local Baptist church in Surrey, and has helped recast the church’s vision from having a mission team (of which he was a leader) to seeing everyone as members of the mission team.

He is also director of CABI, a not-for-profit organisation specialising in science-based development and information; chair of a school trust and has a non-executive role for the Department for Education.