Peter Holbrook

One of Britain's top community entrepreneurs has been appointed to lead the Social Enterprise Coalition.

Peter Holbrook, chief executive of the Sunlight Development Trust in Gillingham, Kent, will succeed Jonathan Bland, who is stepping down at the end of October.

Holbrook's innovative community-led approach to regeneration, tackling health inequalties, and providing public services in one of the UK's most deprived wards has generated a host of admirers, including the prime minister, Gordon Brown, and the Conservative leader, David Cameron.

Holbrook, who starts the new job in January, said: "Politically and economically, social enterprise is set to be tested like never before. But alongside the undoubted challenges that face the sector, we have a unique opportunity to promote an economic model that can change not only the way we do business but also society at large."

Claire Dove, chair of the SEC, said: "Peter is one of the most innovative leaders working in social enterprise today. He brings with him the right experience and an enormous amount of passion. Peter's entrepreneurial abilities, the pioneering work he has done at Sunlight and his commitment to social enterprise make him the right person for the job. On behalf of the SEC board and staff, I am absolutely delighted to welcome him to the coalition."

The Social Enterprise Coalition is the UK's national body for social enterprise and represents a wide range of social enterprises, regional and national support networks and other related organisations.

• Peter Holbrook is a speaker at the Guardian's Social Enterprise 09 conference, in Birmingham on 19 November.