The chief executive of business growth company BSK is to leave next month to lead a new accounting arm of tax refund experts RIFT Group.

Jane Ollis has spent three years in the top job at the publically-funded support firm and moves to the Ashford-based enterprise on November 10.

Having helped set up RIFT Accounting from its conception, the company wasted no time in poaching the Chatham-born businesswoman.

BSK and RIFT have a long-standing relationship, owing to the latter’s expertise in gaining tax credits for research and development firms.

Rochester-based BSK’s director of growth services, Alex Ledger, will take over as chief executive, having led the High Growth Kent and GrowthAccelerator teams since January 2013.

Mrs Ollis will remain on the board at BSK – which runs the annual Kent 2020 Live exhibition – as a non-executive director, having served in the same role for eight years before becoming chief executive.

She said: “My biggest acheivement is being able to work with so many businesses and actually seeing their success.

“I have loved being able to walk around their new premises, meet their new staff, see their new products and know that we have helped make it happen...” - BSK's Jane Ollis

“I have loved being able to walk around their new premises, meet their new staff, see their new products and know that we have helped make it happen.”

She added: “RIFT are a great, high-growth company and I have got to know them over the last year quite well.

“They have a real flair for innovation and great customer service, which I like.”

Mrs Ollis, who went to school in Rochester, lives just outside Hawkhurst and has three children.

Incoming BSK chief executive Mrs Ledger has helped raise more than £19m in investment in the last year, creating over 400 jobs and coaching hundreds of high potential businesses.

She said: “I‘ve realised since joining BSK that the expertise and knowledge we have within the company really sets us apart and I’m looking forward to this opportunity to take BSK on the next stage of our journey, building on the excellent work done to date.”