Jean Innes will leave the organisation later this year as the AI research charity refocuses on defence and security, following sharp criticism from Peter Kyle and staff complaints to the Charity Commission.

The Alan Turing Institute has begun searching for a new head who will enhance its focus on defence and security, following the announcement that current chief executive Jean Innes will leave later this year.

Her resignation came after technology secretary Peter Kyle increased his criticism of the artificial intelligence (AI) research charity. In an interview with the Financial Times, he described it as a “failing organisation” that needed to address its “eccentric governance arrangements” and focus on defence and security.

“We are now looking for a successor as CEO to drive the next phase of the organisation, ensuring our unique capabilities are used to deliver high-impact work that increases our capacity and expertise in defence and national security, and continues to drive forward exciting innovations in environment and healthcare,” said Doug Gurr, the institute’s chair. The institute added that it is concluding a transformation programme that will reduce the number of research projects it runs.

In March 2024, then chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced £100m of government funding for the institute over five years. At that point, its work was spread across three broad areas: environmental, health and defence. It has also undertaken work in other areas, with a report published in June saying that generative AI could support nearly half of the tasks undertaken by civil servants.

In July this year, Kyle wrote to the Turing Institute, calling for it to “prioritise defence, national security and sovereign capabilities” with a new leadership team.

Last month staff submitted a whistleblowing complaint to the Charity Commission, which said that leadership had misused public funds and overseen a “toxic internal culture”, according to the BBC.