RNIB has announced the appointment of a new permanent chief executive, Matt Stringer, who will move into the third sector after a 30 year career in retail that has included senior roles at Marks & Spencer, Mothercare and Carphone Warehouse.

Stringer takes over from Eliot Lyne, who has been serving as interim chief executive since the resignation of the last permanent CEO, Sally Harvey, in April 2018. Harvey’s resignation followed investigations by the Charity Commission and Ofsted into safeguarding issues reported at a subsidiary of the charity, the Pears Centre for Specialist Learning, a children’s home in the West Midlands, since closed by the charity.

Under Lyne, RNIB has launched a new strategy and brand. In announcing the new appointment, RNIB praised Lyne’s work, saying he had transformed the organisation’s financial position and thanking him for his role in developing the new strategy and brand. Stringer will take over from Lyne at the end of May.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Matt to the team,” said RNIB chair Eleanor Southwood. “He brings a wealth of experience of leadership in complex organisations that are going through change. Eliot has been an outstanding leader for RNIB over the past year and I’m confident that Matt is the right person to lead us into our exciting next chapter.”

Stringer said: “I am very excited about what RNIB can achieve over the next few years and the part I can play in that. With its exciting and ambitious strategy, RNIB is in a powerful position to make real change. Under my leadership, we will seek to be the best we can be for blind and partially sighted people.”

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