Ash Soni will "no longer be" Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) president from next month, the society has announced.

Mr Soni, who took up the position two years ago, said it has been a "privilege and pleasure to serve the RPS and the profession".

"I am hugely proud of the progress the RPS has made over recent times and that we now have a stronger and more influential voice in pharmacy and healthcare across Great Britain.

“During this time I have met many pharmacists doing fantastic work in all healthcare settings, as well as in academia, the pharmaceutical industry and in many other roles.

"I hope I have played my part in making sure the stories of excellent patient care delivered through our profession have been heard at the highest levels within the NHS," he said yesterday (June 23).

The RPS would not confirm to C+D whether Mr Soni had lost his seat on its assembly following a vote by the RPS's English Pharmacy Board this week.

@ChemistDruggist @rpharms Can I say a huge thank you to you all for your wonderful support. I am deeply honoured and humbled by you all

— Ash Soni OBE (@ashsoni0607) 23 June 2016

Mr Soni's successor will be elected as the next RPS assembly meeting on July 19.

Praise for Mr Soni

@ashsoni0607 an inspiration to us all! Set out a great vision for pharmacy, You will be missed as Mr President! #ThankYou

— Faraaz Hussain (@FaraazHussain) 23 June 2016

@ashsoni0607 You've been an inspiration to me. Truly believe when 1 chapter ends another begins.U r a resilient leader,onwards & upwards Ash

— Reena Barai (@REENABARAI) 23 June 2016

Absolutely shocked and surprised at the news that @ashsoni0607 'pushed' out of presidency at @rpharms #ExcellentPresident #WillBeMissed

— Mohammed Hussain (@EPSPharmacist) 24 June 2016In

Independent support group Avicenna's CEO Salim Jetha told C+D the sector has "lost a visionary leader". "Ash Soni took great leaps to reconnect the RPS to the mainstream profession and engage with the Department of Health," he said.