TUC regional secretary Paul Nowak leaves the North-East next week to take up a new position with the TUC in London.
Mr Nowak, 29, will work at the organisation's Congress House headquarters in London, on the unionism project, which encourages unions to grow in traditionally non-unionised sectors of the economy.
While he leaves his position on May 16, he will travel to the US on an exchange visit before taking up his new post.
A successor to Mr Nowak is not expected to be appointed until later in the year.
Mr Nowak, from Liverpool, was the youngest ever regional secretary when he was appointed to the position of Northern Regional Secretary in March 2000.
He took over from Bob Howard, who was the TUC's first full-time regional secretary.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article