Richard Day, owner of English in Chester, will start in the position immediately until a permanent replacement is found, the organisation said in a statement.

Day has been a leader in the UK’s ELT industry for 30 years, and was a member of the working party which created English UK 10 years ago. He has served on the board of EUK and its predecessor organisation, Arels.

“I hope to work constructively with our main stakeholders to deliver a stronger association and better climate in which our industry can prosper”

Day, who said he is “honoured and flattered” to be offered the role, has already begun discussions with senior staff.

“This is a part-time caretaker role and my main job is to support the English UK team in the great work that they are doing,” Day said.

At the British Council SIEM conference last month, Day acknowledged the challenges the UK’s ELT sector currently faces as numbers decline from key markets including Russia, Libya and Thailand.

Day will start in the position immediately until a permanent replacement is found.

However, as interim CEO, Day said Byers’s strategic plan had put EUK in a good position despite the current market conditions.

“Under Eddie it took stock and was ready to move forwards – it is a tragedy on so many levels that Eddie is no longer with us,” he said.

“English UK will not thrive in isolation. I hope to work constructively with our main stakeholders to deliver a stronger association and better climate in which our industry can prosper.”

Steve Phillips, Chair of the English UK Board, said the organisation was grateful to Richard for accepting this role “at a very challenging time for our industry”.

“We are looking forward to working with him. The association has a robust strategy in place, developed by Eddie Byers with the board, and Richard will be using this to take English UK forward, supported by the staff team.”